A Typology of Populisms and Changing Forms of Society: The Case of Slovenia

Abstract

Although there are numerous definitions of populism, the distinction between the different forms of populism in relation to changing forms of societies has not yet been conceptualised. Such a typologisation requires a focus on changes in political paradigms relating to changing forms of societies, and on particular reactions to processes of globalisation. It is argued that adopting this approach can make research more precise both in studying a single country and for comparative cross-country research. In this article we report on development and testing of conceptualisations of pre-modern, modern national, authoritarian national and post-modern populism with reference to the case of Slovenia, a society which has recently undergone dynamic change.

Notes

¹ The definition, proposed by George Hall, was adopted by participants at a conference entitled ‘To Define Populism’, held at the London School of Economics, 19–21 May 1967 and reported in Berlin et al. (1968, p. 179).

² Examples include Weber (1947), Eisenstadt (1973, 1978, 1987), Offe (1985), Turner (1990), Crook et al. (1992), Inglehart (1997), Beck (2006).

³ See an overview in Berlin et al. (1968).

⁴ See also Weyland (2001).

⁵ This term is used to describe a special group of people who lived within the territory of Slovenia at the time of the country’s gaining independence but did not apply for Slovenian citizenship by the legal deadline. While more than 170,000 individuals gained citizenship without having to relinquish their previous citizenship, the status of those who did not apply within the allotted time eroded overnight: they were ‘erased’ from the register of permanent residents of Slovenia in a controversial procedure, even though they had been living in Slovenia for many years. This ‘erasure’ remains controversial despite a series of Slovenian laws passed (under duress from the EU) to address the issue.

⁶ In the multilayered system of representation the leader is accountable to citizens in part through horizontal means (checks and balances) and in part in a direct plebiscitarian (vertical) system of accountability. Populists tend to favour more direct vertical ties between leader and followers.

⁷ For more, including the recording of Kramberger’s speeches, see Tetičkovič (2012).

⁸ ‘Žarišče’, Ivan Kramberger broadcast of the RTV SLO, 8 June 1992, available at: http://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/spomin-na-skromnega-cloveka-z-velikim-srcem/72026, accessed 7 June 2015.

⁹ Some documentary sections of Kramberger’s filmed public appearances are shown in the broadcast, ‘Žarišče’, Ivan Kramberger broadcast of the RTV SLO, 8 June 1992, available at: http://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/spomin-na-skromnega-cloveka-z-velikim-srcem/72026, accessed 7 June 2015; Tetičkovič (2012).

¹⁰ ‘Žarišče’, Ivan Kramberger broadcast of the RTV SLO, 8 June 1992, available at: http://www.rtvslo.si/slovenija/spomin-na-skromnega-cloveka-z-velikim-srcem/72026, accessed 7 June 2015.

¹¹ More biographical information on Jelinčič’s curriculum vitae is available at: http://www.sns.si/zmago/zjp/biografija/, accessed 21 July 2015.

¹² For more detailed information on Drnovšek, see http://www2.gov.si/up-rs/2002-2007/jd.nsf/dokumentiweb/Zivljenjepis?OpenDocument, accessed 21 July 2015.

¹³ See, http://www.gibanje.org, accessed 21 July 2015.

¹⁴ ‘Dejavnost Gibanja za pravičnost in razvoj’, available at: http://www.gibanje.org/index.php?id=2, accessed 27 August 2016; ‘Janez Drnovšek, o gibanju’, available at: http://www.gibanje.org/index.php?id=1, accessed 27 August 2016; ‘Janez Drnovšek, Resen pogovor’, 3 September 2008, available at: http://www.gibanje.org/index.php?id=3035, accessed 27 August 2016.

¹⁵ See, http://www.gibanje.org/index.php?id=1, accessed 21 July 2015.

¹⁶ ‘Dejavnost Gibanja za pravičnost in razvoj’, available at: http://www.gibanje.org/index.php?id=2, accessed 27 August 2016. See also, the archive of thoughts of the Movement’s founder, Janez Drnovšek, available at: http://www.gibanje.org/index.php?id=205, accessed 27 August 2016.

¹⁷ See the archive of Drnovšek’s thoughts, available at: http://www.gibanje.org/?id=205&action=arhiv, accessed 30 April 2015; ‘Meet the President—Janez Drnovšek, 21 May 2007—part 1’, Al Jazeera, available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unicG1xbBJk, accessed 30 April 2015; ‘Meet the President—Janez Drnovšek 21 May 2007—part 2’, Al Jazeera, available at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rI5Du4p4Vi4, accessed 30 April 2015.

¹⁸ See, http://www.gibanje.org/index.php?id=205, accessed 12 August 2015.