The role of insecurity in left populist ideology: a review of Podemos
The role of insecurity in left populist ideology: a review of Podemos
The relationship between populism and insecurity remains relatively underexplored, with the empirical focus skewed towards the radical right. To understand the role of insecurity in left populism, this review focuses on the discourse of Podemos and critically examines the existing literature, delivering a detailed analysis of how the party articulated the people-vs-elite struggle as it emerged as a novel political force. It shows that Podemos’ core ideological messages about the people and the elites were rooted in insecurity. Narratives of threat constructed various elites as a dangerous enemy, personifying the people’s ontological insecurities; narratives of humiliation unified the people, emphasising the nefarious effects of the behaviour of elites; and finally, narratives of hope helped consolidate the role of the party as the people’s saviour. By originally revisiting and synthesising fragmented accounts surrounding Podemos’ discourse from the novel interdisciplinary lens of insecurity, the review contributes to a greater understanding of the relationship between insecurity and left-wing populism, providing support to the hypothesis that insecurity is an integral component of the populist ideology regardless of left–right distinctions.
Podemos, grievance politics, insecurity, left populism, populist ideology
Bonansinga, Donatella
864692cb-5d6b-4b72-bdbe-4a1fe5d0b6e5
Kielty, Bridie
906beb53-8252-4a7a-a928-b7f7ff7798d8
Bonansinga, Donatella
864692cb-5d6b-4b72-bdbe-4a1fe5d0b6e5
Kielty, Bridie
906beb53-8252-4a7a-a928-b7f7ff7798d8
Bonansinga, Donatella and Kielty, Bridie
(2025)
The role of insecurity in left populist ideology: a review of Podemos.
Political Studies Review.
(doi:10.1177/14789299251326156).
Abstract
The relationship between populism and insecurity remains relatively underexplored, with the empirical focus skewed towards the radical right. To understand the role of insecurity in left populism, this review focuses on the discourse of Podemos and critically examines the existing literature, delivering a detailed analysis of how the party articulated the people-vs-elite struggle as it emerged as a novel political force. It shows that Podemos’ core ideological messages about the people and the elites were rooted in insecurity. Narratives of threat constructed various elites as a dangerous enemy, personifying the people’s ontological insecurities; narratives of humiliation unified the people, emphasising the nefarious effects of the behaviour of elites; and finally, narratives of hope helped consolidate the role of the party as the people’s saviour. By originally revisiting and synthesising fragmented accounts surrounding Podemos’ discourse from the novel interdisciplinary lens of insecurity, the review contributes to a greater understanding of the relationship between insecurity and left-wing populism, providing support to the hypothesis that insecurity is an integral component of the populist ideology regardless of left–right distinctions.
Text
bonansinga-kielty-2025-the-role-of-insecurity-in-left-populist-ideology-a-review-of-podemos
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Accepted/In Press date: 19 February 2025
e-pub ahead of print date: 18 March 2025
Keywords:
Podemos, grievance politics, insecurity, left populism, populist ideology
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Local EPrints ID: 500055
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/500055
ISSN: 1478-9299
PURE UUID: b2a130fa-c774-40cc-bed3-9c7070e77243
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Date deposited: 14 Apr 2025 16:39
Last modified: 22 Aug 2025 02:45
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Contributors
Author:
Donatella Bonansinga
Author:
Bridie Kielty
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