The Birth of Trump: A Symbolic Precedent of Populist Politics

[D-14, 4·7 By-election In-depth Analysis] ③ The Temptation of Populism

[Asia Economy Reporter Ryu Jeong-min] On November 8, 2016 (local time), the mainstream political forces were shocked by the results of the U.S. presidential election. Republican outsider politician Donald Trump defied the predictions of the elite and was elected president.

The forecasts of major U.S. media and polling agencies, which expected 'Trump's defeat,' were off the mark. The Trump presidency symbolizes the destructive power of populist politics in the United States.

The idea of building a wall on the border with Mexico resonated with the public's desire for strong measures against the issue of 'illegal immigrants.' Politician Trump focused on issues such as racial discrimination that the public dared not openly discuss, and his policies received support regardless of 'political correctness.'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

Professor Lee Jun-han of the Department of Political Science and Diplomacy at Incheon National University stated, “The number of votes Trump received in the 2020 presidential election actually increased compared to the 2016 election,” adding, “It is difficult to say that perceptions of populism have changed just because Trump lost.”

When naming a representative populist politician in Asia, Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte cannot be left out. He gained great popularity by leading the war on crime in the Philippines, which was suffering from drug problems.

Although controversies over human rights violations arose as vigilante groups tacitly supported by the government executed crime suspects without trial, his actions remained relentless. In April last year, he even issued an order to shoot anyone violating lockdown measures related to COVID-19.

In global politics, populism often appears in political leaders known as 'strongmen' like Trump and Duterte, but 'left-wing populism' is also a subject of debate. Former Argentine President Juan Domingo Per?n, considered one of the most important politicians in Argentina's history, is a key figure.

‘Peronism,’ symbolized by active state economic intervention and strengthened social security systems, received enthusiastic support from workers and farmers but also had significant side effects such as backlash from excessive wage increases. Some attribute Argentina’s rapid decline from being one of the world’s top five economies to ‘Peronism.’

An interesting point is that in Argentina, which still suffers from price instability and high unemployment, Peronism is being highlighted as a solution to these problems. Despite various criticisms of populist policies, the ‘shadow of Per?n’ continues to influence contemporary politics.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.