Boris Johnson and the “Populist Hypothesis” in the Conservative Party (UK)

Abstract

One of the key features of the phenomenon of populism is the high level of personalization of political activity, the close connection between the spread and level of influence of a populist movement and the personality of its leader. This feature is not, of course, unique to populism, as charismatic leaders can rise to prominence by advocating value systems that are far from populism of any kind - conservative, for example, or by making a career within influential organizational structures with a strong tradition, such as the church. However, for a populist movement, charismatic leadership is almost always a necessary element. On the other hand, in the context of open, public political struggle, populist techniques and rhetoric become a powerful and sometimes necessary tool.