The Rise of Post-truth Populism in Pluralist Liberal Democracies: Challenges for Health Policy

Document Type : Editorial

Authors

1 School of Health and Human Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK

2 Health Services Management Center, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK

Abstract

Recent years have witnessed the rise of populism and populist leaders, movements and policies in many pluralist liberal democracies, with Brexit and the election of Trump the two most recent high profile examples of this backlash against established political elites and the institutions that support them. This new populism is underpinned by a post-truth politics which is using social media as a mouthpiece for ‘fake news’ and ‘alternative facts’ with the intention of inciting fear and hatred of ‘the other’ and thereby helping to justify discriminatory health policies for marginalised groups. In this article, we explore what is meant by populism and highlight some of the challenges for health and health policy posed by the new wave of post-truth populism.

Highlights

Commentaries Published on this Paper

  • “Enemies of the People?” Public Health in the Era of Populist Politics; Comment on “The Rise of Post-truth Populism in Pluralist Liberal Democracies: Challenges for Health Policy”

          Abstract | PDF

  • “Stop, You’re Killing us!” An Alternative Take on Populism and Public Health; Comment on “The Rise of Post-truth Populism in Pluralist Liberal Democracies: Challenges for Health Policy”

          Abstract  | PDF

  • This Is My (Post) Truth, Tell Me Yours; Comment on “The Rise of Post-truth Populism in Pluralist Liberal Democracies: Challenges for Health Policy”

          Abstract | PDF

  • Populism, Exclusion, Post-truth. Some Conceptual Caveats; Comment on “The Rise of Post-truth Populism in Pluralist Liberal Democracies: Challenges for Health Policy”

          Abstract | PDF

  • Community Psychology as a Process of Citizen Participation in Health Policy; Comment on “The Rise of Post-truth Populism in Pluralist Liberal Democracies: Challenges for Health Policy”

          Abstract | PDF

  • The Far Right Challenge; Comment on “The Rise of Post-truth Populism in Pluralist Liberal Democracies: Challenges for Health Policy”

          Abstract | PDF

 

Authors' Response to the Commentaries

  • The Politics and Power of Populism: A Response to the Recent Commentaries

          Abstract | PDF

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

  1. Inglehart R, Norris P. Trump, Brexit, and the rise of Populism: Economic have-nots and cultural backlash. Harvard University, HKS Faculty Research Working Paper Series RWP16-026; 2016.
  2. Speed E. A note on the utility of austerity. Crit Public Health. 2016;26:1-3. doi:10.1080/09581596.2015.1109063
  3. Standing G. A Precariat Charter: From Denizens to Citizens. London: Bloomsbury Academic; 2014.
  4. Laclau E. On Populist Reason. London: Verso; 2005.
  5. Weyland K. Clarifying a Contested Concept: Populism in the Study of Latin American Politics. Comp Polit. 2001;34:1-22. doi:10.2307/422412
  6. Albertazzi D, McDonnell D. Twenty-First Century Populism. London: Palgrave Macmillan; 2008.
  7. Mudde C. The populist radical right: a pathological normalcy. West Eur Polit. 2010;33:1167-1186. doi:10.1080/01402382.2010.508901
  8. McKee M, Galsworthy MJ. Brexit: a confused concept that threatens public health. J Public Health. 2016;38:3-5. doi:10.1093/pubmed/fdv205
  9. Lunt N, Mannion R. Patient mobility in the global marketplace: a multidisciplinary perspective. Int J Health Policy Manag. 2014;2:155-157. doi:10.15171/ijhpm.2014.47
  10. Murray M. Intimate choices, public threats – reproductive and LGBTQ rights under a Trump administration. N Engl J Med. 2017;376:301-303. doi:10.1056/NEJMp1615718
  11. Lunt N, Mannion R, Exworthy M. A framework for exploring the policy implications of UK medical tourism and international patient flows. Soc Policy Adm. 2012;47:1-25. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9515.2011.00833.x
  12. Wise J. Charging overseas patients upfront could cause “chaos,” BMA warns. BMJ. 2017;356:j655. doi:10.1136/bmj.j655
  13. Exworthy M, Mannion R, Powell M. Dismantling the NHS? Evaluating the Impact of Health Reforms. University of Bristol: Policy Press; 2016.
  14. Baudrillard J. Simulacra and Simulation. Michigan: University of Michigan Press; 1981.
  15. Mannion R, Small N. Postmodern health economics.  Health Care Analysis. 1999;7:255-272. doi:10.1023/A:1009400926449
  16. Deacon M. Michael Gove’s guide to Britain’s greatest enemy…the experts. The Telegraph. June 10, 2016.  http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/10/michael-goves-guide-to-britains-greatest-enemy-the-experts/. Accessed February 2, 2017.
  17. Noveck B. Smart Citizens, Smarter State: The Technologies of Expertise and the Future of Governing. Boston: Harvard University Press; 2015.
  18. Noveck B, Enough of experts: data, democracy and the future of expertis. London, UK: Annual Sage Publishing Lecture, Academy of Social Sciences; 2016. https://www.acss.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/12/Professional-Briefing-10-CfSS-Annual-Lecture-2016-FINAL.pdf. Accessed February 2, 2017.
  19. Demil B, Lecocq X. Neither Market nor Hierarchy nor Network: The Emergence of Bazaar Governance. Organ Stud. 2006;27:1447-1466. doi:10.1177/0170840606067250

Files

History

  • Receive Date: 25 January 2017
  • Revise Date: 12 February 2017
  • Accept Date: 08 February 2017
  • First Publish Date: 01 May 2017

Share

How to cite

Statistics