Populism refers to a range of political philosophies that emphasise the idea of the people and against the privileged elites. When important concerns of the people are not addressed by the elites, the populist movements form to challenge the establishment.

• Giving Voice to Marginalized Groups:
• Populist politics amplifies the concerns and grievances of marginalized groups: for e.g The rise of backward politics in India
• Raises awareness of their needs and challenges.
• Pushes for inclusive policies to address their unique circumstances.
• The Black Lives Matter movement in the United States emerged as a response to systemic racism and police brutality against Black individuals, amplifying their concerns and advocating for social justice.
• Addressing Socioeconomic Inequality:
• Populist movements emphasize reducing socioeconomic disparities.
• Implementation of welfare programs and social security measures.
• Uplifts disadvantaged communities and bridges the gap between the rich and the poor.
• The Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) in India provides employment opportunities and wage security to rural households, particularly benefiting disadvantaged sections of society and reducing socioeconomic disparities.
• Fostering Economic Nationalism:
• Populist politics advocates for prioritizing domestic industries.
• Protecting national interests and promoting self-sufficiency.
• Creates opportunities for domestic businesses and workers.
• The “Make in India” campaign launched by the Indian government focuses on promoting domestic manufacturing and attracting investments to boost economic growth and create job opportunities within the country.
• Empowering Local Communities:
• Populist movements promote decentralization and devolution of power.
• Empowers grassroots organizations and local governance bodies.
• Strengthens citizen participation and ensures local needs are considered.
• Advocating for Social Justice:
• Populist politics brings attention to social justice issues.
• Highlights discrimination, exploitation, and unequal access to resources.
• Pushes for policy changes, safeguards, and legal reforms to promote equality and protect vulnerable groups.
• FOR e.g. The reservation policy in India, implemented to promote social justice, reserves seats in educational institutions and government jobs for historically marginalized communities, ensuring equal opportunities and representation.

Influence of Populist Politics on the Democratic Fabric of India from a Societal Perspective

• Increased Social Fragmentation: Populist rhetoric, often along religious, caste, and ethnic lines, has intensified societal divisions in India. This heightened fragmentation impacts the communal harmony, which is the bedrock of India’s diverse democratic fabric.
• Rise in Majoritarianism: The popularity of populist politics has fostered majoritarian sentiments. The majority community, feeling emboldened, might inadvertently marginalize minority communities, undermining the principles of inclusive democracy.
• Erosion of Social Trust: The polarizing nature of populist politics can lead to the erosion of social trust, as seen in many instances of communal violence in India. This erosion of trust can hinder the democratic process, as it encourages identity-based politics over consensus building.
• Threat to Freedom of Expression: The populist narrative often suppresses dissenting voices, labelling them as “anti-national” or “enemies of the state”. This narrative endangers the freedom of expression in India, a critical element of democratic societies.
• Reduced Civic Engagement: Populist politics might lead to disillusionment and political apathy among citizens who feel unheard or misrepresented. This reduction in civic engagement is detrimental to the functioning of democracy.
• Increased Hate Speech and Intolerance: Populist leaders often use provocative rhetoric to mobilize support, which can increase instances of hate speech and intolerance in society. This negatively impacts societal harmony and democratic discourse.
• Displacement of Marginalized Groups: Populist politics can exacerbate discrimination against marginalized groups, leading to their further displacement in society. For example, populist rhetoric around nationalism has adversely affected the status of refugees and immigrants in India.
• Reinforcement of Gender Stereotypes: Populist politics often leverage traditional norms and gender stereotypes to appeal to conservative sectors of society, potentially hindering the progress of gender equality in India.
• Economic Disparity: The promises of economic benefits to a specific section of society, a common populist strategy, may exacerbate economic disparities and fuel social discontent, undermining democratic stability.
• Impact on Education: The infiltration of populist politics into education, such as revision of textbooks to reflect a particular narrative, can influence younger generations and limit their critical thinking abilities – a prerequisite for an active democratic citizenry.

Shaping of India’s Policy Landscape by Populist Politics

• Welfare Populism: Populist leaders often promise and implement welfare schemes to attract votes. In India, schemes like the PM-KISAN, which provides income support to farmers, and Ayushman Bharat, a health insurance scheme, are examples of welfare populism. However, in long run it can be probalamatic for eg. MSP
• Economic Nationalism: Economic policies have seen a populist tilt with initiatives promoting domestic industries and protectionism, as evidenced by the “Make in India” and “Atmanirbhar Bharat” campaigns.
• Education Policy: Populist politics has shaped education policy in India with changes that reflect a particular ideological narrative. For example, alterations in historical narratives in textbooks have been noted.
• Decentralization: There’s a tendency to centralize power to fulfil populist promises quickly. This has shaped India’s policy landscape, moving away from the earlier trend of decentralization.
• Environmental Policy: Populist pressures can often sideline environmental concerns. Infrastructure projects like highways, dams, and mines have been fast-tracked at the expense of environmental and tribal rights.
• Immigration Policy: Populist politics has influenced India’s stance on immigration. The controversial Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) is an example where religion-based populism played a key role.

Tackling populism

• Social media should be regulated and held accountable for damaging a pluralistic, fact-based and hate-free political debate, in the same way as traditional media.
• Civil society organisations defending human rights and equality against populism should agree on a common agenda and strategy across identity politics divides.
• Participatory and deliberative platforms and initiatives (citizens’ assemblies, forums) should be embedded into the decision-making processes to balance the oligarchic tendencies of electoral democracy.
• Political parties (established and emerging) should seek to propose inclusive visions and programs that deliver benefits for all citizens, not only for a part of the voters.
• There is no doubt that division in the face of an organised populist threat is problematic. Only rational thinking rather than impulsive feelings and anger can solve the problems of our times.Democracies work best when we remember that there is no one people or party or politician has a monopoly on knowing what the people want.

 For India to maintain its rich democratic heritage, it is imperative to balance populist tendencies with the tenets of inclusive democracy, preserving its societal harmony and institutional integrity. The future of India’s democracy hinges on the ability to navigate the complexities of populist politics in a manner that upholds democratic values while addressing the needs of the populace.