Left-wing populism, also called social populism, is a political ideology that combines left-wing politics with populist rhetoric and themes. Its rhetoric often consists of anti-

elitism Elitism is the belief or notion that individuals who form an elite—a select group of people perceived as having an intrinsic quality, high intellect, wealth, power, notability, special skills, or experience—are more likely to be constructi ...

, opposition to the Establishment, and speaking for the " common people".Albertazzi and McDonnell, p. 123. Recurring themes for left-wing populists include economic democracy, social justice, and scepticism of globalization.

Socialist theory Socialism is a left-wing economic philosophy and movement encompassing a range of economic systems characterized by the dominance of social ownership of the means of production as opposed to private ownership. As a term, it describes the econ ...

plays a lesser role than in traditional left-wing ideologies. Criticism of capitalism and globalization is linked to antimilitarism, which has increased in left populist movements due to unpopular United States military operations, especially those in the Middle East. It is considered that the populist left does not exclude others horizontally and relies on egalitarian ideals. Some scholars also speak of nationalist left-wing populist movements, a feature exhibited by the Sandinista Revolution in Nicaragua or the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela. Unlike exclusionary or

right-wing populism Right-wing populism, also called national populism and right-wing nationalism, is a political ideology that combines right-wing politics and populist rhetoric and themes. Its rhetoric employs anti-elitist sentiments, opposition to the Establi ...

, left-wing populist parties tend to claim to be supportive of minority rights, as well as to an idea of nationality that is not delimited by cultural or ethnic particularisms. With the rise of

Syriza The Coalition of the Radical Left – Progressive Alliance ( el, Συνασπισμός Ριζοσπαστικής Αριστεράς – Προοδευτική Συμμαχία, Synaspismós Rizospastikís Aristerás – Proodeftikí Simachía), ...

and Podemos during the European debt crisis, there has been increased debate on new left-wing populism in Europe. Traditionally, left-wing populism has been associated with the socialist movement; since the 2010s, there has been a movement close to left-wing populism in the

left-liberal Social liberalism (german: Sozialliberalismus, es, socioliberalismo, nl, Sociaalliberalisme), also known as new liberalism in the United Kingdom, modern liberalism, or simply liberalism in the contemporary United States, left-liberalism ...

camp, some of which are considered

social democratic Social democracy is a political, social, and economic philosophy within socialism that supports political and economic democracy. As a policy regime, it is described by academics as advocating economic and social interventions to promote soci ...

positions.

Bernie Sanders Bernard Sanders (born September8, 1941) is an American politician who has served as the junior United States senator from Vermont since 2007. He was the U.S. representative for the state's at-large congressional district from 1991 to 2007 ...

and

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (; ; born October 13, 1989), also known by her initials AOC, is an American politician and activist. She has served as the U.S. representative for New York's 14th congressional district since 2019, as a member of th ...

, self-described democratic socialists, are examples of modern left-wing populist politicians.

By country

Americas

Argentina

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (the

President of Argentina The president of Argentina ( es, Presidente de Argentina), officially known as the president of the Argentine Nation ( es, Presidente de la Nación Argentina), is both head of state and head of government of Argentina. Under Constitution of Ar ...

from 2007 to 2015) and her husband Néstor Kirchner were said to practice Kirchnerism, a variant of Peronism that was often mentioned alongside other Pink tide governments in Latin America. During Cristina Fernández de Kirchner's time in office, she spoke against certain free trade agreements, such as the proposed Free Trade Area of the Americas. Her administration was characterized by tax increases, especially on agricultural exports during the late 2000s commodities boom, Argentina's main export, in order to fund social programs such as the PROGRESAR university scholarships, the universal allocation per child subsidy (commonly referred to as AUH in Argentina, ''Asignación Universal por Hijo''), a means-tested benefit to families with children who qualified for the subsidy, and progressive social reforms such as the recognition of same-sex marriage.

Bolivia

The leadership of

Siles Zuazo Siles may refer to: People: *Jemma Siles (b. 1997), Australian singer/songwriter *Hernando Siles Reyes (b. 1882), 31st President of Bolivia, 27th Vice President of Bolivia *Hernán Siles Zuazo (b. 1914), 46th President of Bolivia, 31st Vice Presid ...

practised left-wing populism as well as that of former socialist President Evo Morales.

Brazil

Lulism is a pragmatic centre-left ideology to the extent that it is called "socialist neoliberalism", but it appeals to a

progressive Progressive may refer to: Politics * Progressivism, a political philosophy in support of social reform ** Progressivism in the United States, the political philosophy in the American context * Progressive realism, an American foreign policy par ...

, common-class image and also has populist elements in terms of popular mobilization.

Ecuador

Rafael Correa, the former President of Ecuador, has stressed the importance of a "populist discourse" and has integrated technocrats to work within this context for the common Ecuadorians. Correa has blamed foreign non-governmental organizations for exploiting the indigenous people in the conflict between the indigenous peoples and the government.

Mexico

The current governing party, the National Regeneration Movement, is a left-wing populist party.

United States

Huey Long, the Great Depression-era Governor-turned-Senator of Louisiana, was one of the first modern American left-wing populists in the United States, advocating for wealth redistribution under his Share Our Wealth plan, which had its roots in the classical left-wing populist movement of Jacksonian democracy, which is related to the radical movement. Meanwhile,

and

, self-described democratic socialists, are examples of modern left-wing populist politicians. Ocasio-Cortez's Democratic primary victory over the establishment Democratic Caucus Chair Joe Crowley, a 10-term incumbent, was widely seen as the biggest upset victory in the 2018 midterm election primaries. The Nation magazine described Ocasio-Cortez as a "new rock star" who was "storming the country on behalf of insurgent populists." Elizabeth Warren is also mentioned as a representative left-wing or liberal populist, and she is sometimes evaluated as a social democrat.

Venezuela

The presidency of

Hugo Chávez Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías (; 28 July 1954 – 5 March 2013) was a Venezuelan politician who was president of Venezuela from 1999 until his death in 2013, except for a brief period in 2002. Chávez was also leader of the Fifth Republ ...

resembled a combination of folk wisdom and charismatic leadership with doctrinaire socialism.Kirk Andrew Hawkins, ''Venezuela's Chavismo and Populism in Comparative Perspective''. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2010, , page 84

Asia

Israel

Yesh Atid is a

radical centrist Radical centrism (also called the radical center, the radical centre or the radical middle) is a concept that arose in Western nations in the late 20th century. The '' radical'' in the term refers to a willingness on the part of most radical ce ...

or liberal party. In Israeli politics, "liberal" is not particularly a concept that is distinguished by

left Left may refer to: Music * ''Left'' (Hope of the States album), 2006 * ''Left'' (Monkey House album), 2016 * "Left", a song by Nickelback from the album ''Curb'', 1996 Direction * Left (direction), the relative direction opposite of right * L ...

or right, but Yesh Atid is evaluated that it has a left-wing populist element in part. They criticize elitism that causes political corruption and demand a position on material redistribution. However, Yesh Atid has an element of economic liberalism simultaneously. Taro Yamamoto 202006 (cropped)

Japan

Reiwa Shinsengumi, led by Tarō Yamamoto, is a representative

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

ese left-wing populist movement. While he and his party use anti-established rhetoric, they are sometimes called " liberal populist". According to experts, Yamamoto uses a simple message to spotlight single individuals left behind, including people struggling with poverty or non-permanent employment, who used to devote themselves to radical conservatism.

South Korea

South Korea's leftist political party, the Progressive Party, advocates

direct democracy Direct democracy or pure democracy is a form of democracy in which the Election#Electorate, electorate decides on policy initiatives without legislator, elected representatives as proxies. This differs from the majority of currently establishe ...

, anti-neoliberalism and

anti-imperialism Anti-imperialism in political science and international relations is a term used in a variety of contexts, usually by nationalist movements who want to secede from a larger polity (usually in the form of an empire, but also in a multi-ethnic so ...

. They support a liberal- nationalist foreign policy hostile to

Lee Jae-myung Lee Jae-myung (; born 22 December 1964) is a South Korean politician serving as a member of the National Assembly and the leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. Lee was the nominee of the Democratic Party in the 2022 South Korean presiden ...

, one of DPK's major politicians, has been mentioned as a "populist" in some media outlets. Lee Jae-myung pledged to implement the world's first universal basic income system if elected in the 2022 South Korean presidential election but said he would not pay for it if the people opposed it. South Korea's

right-wing Right-wing politics describes the range of political ideologies that view certain social orders and hierarchies as inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable, typically supporting this position on the basis of natural law, economics, authorit ...

politician Hong Joon-pyo saw Lee Jae-myung in September 2021 and accused him of being " Chávez of Gyeonggi Province". However, there is controversy in South Korea as to whether Lee Jae-myung can be viewed as a "left-wing populist" in the context of the United States or Europe. He once said he was "conservative" and suggested policies far from general left-wing populism in the United States and Europe, partially insisting on economic liberal policies such as deregulating companies on some issues. In addition, he showed a somewhat conservative tendency on some social agendas. In addition, Kim Hyun-jong, the head of the International Trade Special Division at the Lee Jae-myung Camp, met with Henry Kissinger, and Henry Kissinger gave Lee Jae-myung a handwritten autograph called "Good wishes". In addition, Lee Jae-myung's political orientation was somewhat ambiguous, so conservative journalist Dong-A Ilbo denied that he was a left-wing politician, while South Korea's

far-left Far-left politics, also known as the radical left or the extreme left, are politics further to the left on the left–right political spectrum than the standard political left. The term does not have a single definition. Some scholars consider ...

organization

Workers' Solidarity Workers' Solidarity ( ko, 노동자연대; ''Nodongjayeondae'') is a political organization in South Korea South Korea, officially the Republic of Korea (ROK), is a country in East Asia, constituting the southern part of the Korea, Korean P ...

evaluated him as a

. (However, another South Korean left-wing ''

undongkwon Undongkwon or Undonggwon, which refers to "the movement sphere" in Korean, is a term associated with the Minjung movement in South Korea during the 1970s and the 1980s. The Minjung movement was a social movement that recognized the people who wer ...

'' group denied that Lee Jae-myung is not a social democratic.)

Europe

Germany

The Party of Democratic Socialism was explicitly studied under left-wing populism, especially by German academics. The party was formed after the

reunification of Germany German reunification (german: link=no, Deutsche Wiedervereinigung) was the process of re-establishing Germany as a united and fully sovereign state, which took place between 2 May 1989 and 15 March 1991. The day of 3 October 1990 when the Ge ...

, and it was similar to right-wing populists in that it relied on anti-elitism and media attention provided by charismatic leadership.Albertazzi and McDonnell, p. 132. The party competed for the same voter base with the right-wing populists to some extent, although it relied on a more serious platform in Eastern Germany. This was limited by anti-immigration sentiments preferred by some voters, although the lines were, for example, crossed by Oskar Lafontaine, who used a term previously associated with the Nazi Party, ''Fremdarbeiter'' ("foreign workers"), in his election campaign in 2005. The PDS merged into the Left Party in 2007. The Left Party is also viewed as a left-wing populist party, but it is not the basis of the party as a whole.

Greece

, which became the largest party since January 2015 elections, has been described as a left-wing populist party after its platform incorporated most demands of the popular movements in Greece during the government-debt crisis. Populist traits in Syriza's platform include the growing importance of "the People" in their rhetoric and "us/the people against them/the establishment" antagonism in campaigning. On immigration and LGBT rights, Syriza is inclusionary. Syriza itself does not accept the label "populist".

Italy

The Italian

Five Star Movement The Five Star Movement ( it, Movimento 5 Stelle , M5S) is a political party in Italy. Its leader and president is Giuseppe Conte, Prime Minister of Italy from 2018 until 2021. The M5S was founded on 4 October 2009 by Beppe Grillo, a comedian an ...

(M5S), which became the largest party in the 2018 general election, has often been described as a big tent populist party, * * * * * but sometimes also as a left-wing populist movement; the "five stars", which are a reference to five critical issues for the party, are

public water In public relations and communication science, publics are groups of individual people, and the public (a.k.a. the general public) is the totality of such groupings. This is a different concept to the sociology, sociological concept of the ''Öf ...

sustainable transport Sustainable transport refers to ways of transportation that are sustainable in terms of their social and environmental impacts. Components for evaluating sustainability include the particular vehicles used for road, water or air transport; th ...

sustainable development Sustainable development is an organizing principle for meeting human development goals while also sustaining the ability of natural systems to provide the natural resources and ecosystem services on which the economy and society depend. The des ...

, right to Internet access, and environmentalism, typical proposals of left-wing populist parties. However, despite its background in left-wing politics, the M5S has often expressed right-wing views on immigration. In September 2019, the M5S formed a government with the centre-left

Democratic Party Democratic Party most often refers to: *Democratic Party (United States) Democratic Party and similar terms may also refer to: Active parties Africa *Botswana Democratic Party *Democratic Party of Equatorial Guinea *Gabonese Democratic Party *Demo ...

(PD) and the left-wing Free and Equal (LeU), with Giuseppe Conte at its head. The government has been sometimes referred to as a left-wing populist cabinet.

Netherlands

The Socialist Party has run a left-wing populist platform after dropping its

communist Communism (from Latin la, communis, lit=common, universal, label=none) is a far-left sociopolitical, philosophical, and economic ideology and current within the socialist movement whose goal is the establishment of a communist society, a s ...

course in 1991. Although some have pointed out that the party has become less populist over the years, it still includes anti-elitism in its recent election manifestos. It opposes what it sees as the

European superstate The United States of Europe (USE), the European State, the European Federation and Federal Europe, is the hypothetical scenario of the European integration leading to formation of a sovereign superstate (similar to the United States of Amer ...

Spain

The left-wing populist party Podemos achieved 8% of the national vote in the

2014 European Parliament election The 2014 European Parliament election was held in the European Union, from 22 to 25 May 2014. It was the 8th parliamentary election since the first direct elections in 1979, and the first in which the European political parties fielded candid ...

. Due to avoiding nativist language typical of right-wing populists, Podemos can attract left-wing voters disappointed with the political establishment without taking sides in the regional political struggle. In the 2015 election for the national parliament, Podemos reached 20.65% of the vote and became the third largest party in the parliament after the conservative People's Party with 28.71% and the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party with 22.02%. In the new parliament, Podemos holds 69 out of 350 seats, which has resulted in the end of the traditional two-party system in Spain. In a November 2018 interview with ''

Jacobin , logo = JacobinVignette03.jpg , logo_size = 180px , logo_caption = Seal of the Jacobin Club (1792–1794) , motto = "Live free or die"(french: Vivre libre ou mourir) , successor = Pa ...

'', Íñigo Errejón argues that Podemos requires a new "national-popular" strategy to win more elections.

United Kingdom

Left-wing populist political parties

Active left-wing populist parties or parties with left-wing populist factions

Represented in national legislatures

* –

Frente de Todos The Frente de Todos (translated as "Everyone's Front") is a coalition of Peronist and Kirchnerist political parties in Argentina formed to support President Alberto Fernández and Vice President Cristina Kirchner. Fernández won the 2019 gene ...

* –

Australian Greens The Australian Greens, commonly known as The Greens, are a confederation of Green state and territory political parties in Australia. As of the 2022 federal election, the Greens are the third largest political party in Australia by vote and th ...

(factions and some state divisions) * – JETZT – Pilz List * –

Bulgarian Socialist Party The Bulgarian Socialist Party ( bg, Българска социалистическа партия, translit=Balgarska sotsialisticheska partiya, BSP), also known as The Centenarian ( bg, Столетницата, links=no, translit=Stoletnitsat ...

* – Alliance of Independent Social Democrats * –

Movement for Socialism The Movement for Socialism–Political Instrument for the Sovereignty of the Peoples ( es, Movimiento al Socialismo–Instrumento Político por la Soberanía de los Pueblos, abbreviated MAS-IPSP, or simply MAS, punning on ''más'', Spanish for ...

* – Workers' Party, Communist Party of Brazil, Socialism and Liberty Party * –

New Democratic Party of Canada The New Democratic Party (NDP; french: Nouveau Parti démocratique, NPD) is a federal political party in Canada. Widely described as social democratic,The party is widely described as social democratic: * * * * * * * * * * * * th ...

(factions) * – Broad Front (factions), Chile Digno * – Alternative Democratic Pole,

Colombia Humana Humane Colombia ( es, Colombia Humana), formerly known as the Progressive Movement ( es, Movimiento Progresistas), is a Colombian left-wing political movement and party founded in 2011 and led by President Gustavo Petro. The youth wing of the party ...

* –

Citizens' Alliance Citizens' Alliances were state and local anti-trade union organizations prominent in the United States of America during the first decade of the 20th century. The Citizen's Alliances were closely related to employers' associations but allowed par ...

, Progressive Party of Working People * – Inuit Ataqatigiit, Red–Green Alliance,

Republic A republic () is a "state in which power rests with the people or their representatives; specifically a state without a monarchy" and also a "government, or system of government, of such a state." Previously, especially in the 17th and 18th c ...

, Socialist People's Party * – Dominican Liberation Party (factions) * –

Citizen Revolution Movement The Citizen Revolution Movement ( es, Movimiento Revolución Ciudadana) is a Democratic socialism, democratic socialist political party in Ecuador formed by supporters of former President Rafael Correa who distanced themselves from Correa's forme ...

* – Party of the European Left, The Left in the European Parliament – GUE/NGL * – Estonian Centre Party

Tõnis Saarts Tonis, Tõnis or Tönis is a masculine given name. Tõnis is an Estonian form of Anthony. Tönis is a Dutch and Swedish form of Tönnis and diminutive form of Antonius, Anton, Antoon, Anthonis, Anthoon, Antonie and Antonis. Tonis is a Dutch ...

. Persistence and decline of political parties: the case of Estonia. '' East European Politics'', 2015, Vol. 31, No. 2. Lk 214 * – Left Alliance (Finland) * – La France Insoumise * – The Left * –

* – Platfòm Pitit Desalin * – Libertad y Refundación (Libre) * – Communist Party of India (Marxist),

Communist Party of India Communist Party of India (CPI) is the oldest Marxist–Leninist communist party in India and one of the nine national parties in the country. The CPI was founded in modern-day Kanpur (formerly known as Cawnpore) on 26 December 1925. H ...

* – Just and Prosperous People's Party * – – Sinn Féin,

People Before Profit/Solidarity People Before Profit/Solidarity ( ga, Pobal Roimh Bhrabús/Dlúthphairtíocht, PBPS, PBP/S, or S-PBP) is a left-wing electoral alliance in the Republic of Ireland. It was formed by members of two socialist political parties in the Republic of I ...

* –

(factions),

(factions), Italian Left * – Reiwa Shinsengumi * – The Left * – National Regeneration Movement, Labor Party * – Mongolian People's Party * – Socialist Party * – Sandinista National Liberation Front * – Red Party * – Guasú Front * – Free Peru * –

Left Bloc Left Bloc may refer to: * Left Bloc (Portugal), a political party in Portugal * Left Bloc (Croatia), a political alliance in Croatia * Left Bloc (Hungary) The Left Bloc (in Hungarian: ''Baloldali Blokk'') was a political alliance in Hungary, f ...

* – Social Democratic Party * – A Just Russia (factions),

Communist Party of the Russian Federation , anthem = , seats1_title = Seats in the State Duma , seats1 = , seats2_title = Seats in the Federation Council , seats2 = , seats3_title = Governors , seats3 = , seats4_title ...

(factions),

For a New Socialism Social Movement «For a New Socialism» (russian: Общественное движение «За новый социализм», Obshchestvennoye dvizheniye «Za novyy sotsializm»; DZNS), also known simply as For a New Socialism, is a social m ...

* – United Left, Active Citizenship * – Socialist Party of Serbia, Movement of Socialists * – Direction - Slovak Social Democracy * –

Economic Freedom Fighters The Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) is a South African left-wing to far-left pan-Africanist and Marxist–Leninist political party. It was founded by expelled former African National Congress Youth League (ANCYL) President Julius Malema, and hi ...

* – Democratic Party of Korea (factions), Progressive Party * – Podemos, Más País, United Left * – Left Party * – New Power Party * – Peoples' Democratic Party * – Labour Party (factions) * –

(factions), Democratic Socialists of America * – United Socialist Party of Venezuela * – ZANU–PF

Not represented in national legislatures

* – Communist Party of Austria * – Equality Party, Progressive Party * – The Left, Party of Civic Rights,

Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia The Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia ( cs, Komunistická strana Čech a Moravy, KSČM) is a communist party in the Czech Republic. As of 2021, KSČM has a membership of 28,715, and is a member party of The Left in the European Parliament ...

* – Estonian United Left Party * – Communist Party of Finland * – Popular Unity,

Course of Freedom Course of Freedom ( el, Πλεύση Ελευθερίας, translit=Plefsi Eleftherias) is a left-wing Greek political party founded on 19 April 2016, by former President of the Hellenic Parliament, Zoe Konstantopoulou. History After the agree ...

* –

Communist Refoundation Party The Communist Refoundation Party ( it, Partito della Rifondazione Comunista, PRC) is a communist political party in Italy that emerged from a split of the Italian Communist Party (PCI) in 1991. The party's secretary is Maurizio Acerbo, who replac ...

Democracy and Autonomy Democracy and Autonomy ( it, Democrazia e Autonomia; DemA) is a political party in Italy, based in Campania. Its founder and leader is Luigi de Magistris, former mayor of Naples and former MEP for Italy of Values. History DemA was launched as ...

, Power to the People * – People's Mujahedin of Iran * –

Socialist Party of Malaysia The Socialist Party of Malaysia (PSM, ; ; ta, மலேசிய சோசியலிஸ்ட் கட்சி), is a socialist political party in Malaysia and an offshoot of Parti Rakyat Malaysia, which originally upheld the same ideology. ...

* –

Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters The Namibian Economic Freedom Fighters (NEFF) is a political party in Namibia. It was formed in June 2014. The party has close links to the South African Economic Freedom Fighters. Economically, the two parties are similar, with the NEFF descri ...

* – Socialist People's Party * – Patriots of Russia,

, Left Front,

Russian Socialist Movement Russian Socialist Movement (russian: Российское социалистическое движение) is a left-wing to far left political organisation in Russia. It was created in 2011 by the merging of various left-wing, socialist, anti-c ...

* –

Party of the Radical Left The Party of the Radical Left ( sr-cyrl, Партија радикалне левице, Partija radikalne levice, PRL) is a left-wing political party in Serbia. It was founded in September 2020 as the successor to Social Democratic Union. T ...

* – Socialists.sk * –

Patriotic Party (Turkey) The Patriotic Party ( tr, Vatan Partisi, VP) is a political party in Turkey. The Patriotic Party describes itself as "vanguard party" and its chairman, Dogu Perincek, described the party in 2015 as a bringing together of socialists, revolutio ...

* –

Communist Party of Ukraine The Communist Party of Ukraine, Abbreviation: KPU, from Ukrainian and Russian "" is a banned political party in Ukraine. It was founded in 1993 as the successor to the Soviet-era Communist Party of Ukraine which was banned in 1991 (accord ...

* – Scottish Socialist Party,

Northern Independence Party The Northern Independence Party (NIP) is a minor secessionist and democratic socialist political party that seeks to make Northern England an independent nation, under the name of Northumbria. Founded in October 2020 by lecturer and former Labour ...

References

External links

"The winds are changing: a new left populism for Europe"
London School of Economics. Eurocrisis in the Press. 2015.

Populism Populism refers to a range of political stances that emphasize the idea of "the people" and often juxtapose this group against " the elite". It is frequently associated with anti-establishment and anti-political sentiment. The term developed ...

Political spectrum Progressivism Socialism Political terminology Populism