Populism: The Politics of Emotions

ABSTRACT

Divisions in society attract unconscious processes. These are inevitably difficult to deal with because, being unconscious, they are not ‘known.’ The first step however to managing such difficulties is to know they do exist. Mutual dynamics occur between the ‘people’ as a group in opposition to the ‘elite.’ The two groupings can be seen to connect and align themselves with each other dialectically. Aspects of these hidden processes which define each other and themselves will be examined here. The conclusion is that democracy invites freedom of expression but allows a freedom of ‘projection.’

KEYWORDS:

• Splitting
• populism
• democracy
• the elite
• group ideal
• group dynamics
• Brexit

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Notes

¹ Such an intergroup dynamic is in process of resurfacing between NATO and Russia right now (in 2022).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

R.D. Hinshelwood

R.D. Hinshelwood, BSc, MB, BS, is a fellow of the British Psychoanalytical Society and a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. He is Emeritus Professor at the University of Essex, UK; and he was previously Director of the Cassel Hospital, London. He has written widely on Kleinian psychoanalysis and the application of psychoanalytic ideas to social and cultural issues, including the integration of social factors and unconscious factors within political debate and action.