TY - JOUR
T1 - Rise of the Trumpenvolk
T2 - Populism in the 2016 Election
AU - Oliver, J. Eric
AU - Rahn, Wendy M.
PY - 2016/9/1
Y1 - 2016/9/1
N2 - Despite the wide application of the label “populist” in the 2016 election cycle, there has been little systematic evidence that this election is distinctive in its populist appeal. Looking at historical trends, contemporary rhetoric, and public opinion data, we find that populism is an appropriate descriptor of the 2016 election and that Donald Trump stands out in particular as the populist par excellence. Historical data reveal a large “representation gap” that typically accompanies populist candidates. Content analysis of campaign speeches shows that Trump, more so than any other candidate, employs a rhetoric that is distinctive in its simplicity, anti-elitism, and collectivism. Original survey data show that Trump’s supporters are distinctive in their unique combination of anti-expertise, anti-elitism, and pronationalist sentiments. Together, these findings highlight the distinctiveness of populism as a mechanism of political mobilization and the unusual character of the 2016 race.
AB - Despite the wide application of the label “populist” in the 2016 election cycle, there has been little systematic evidence that this election is distinctive in its populist appeal. Looking at historical trends, contemporary rhetoric, and public opinion data, we find that populism is an appropriate descriptor of the 2016 election and that Donald Trump stands out in particular as the populist par excellence. Historical data reveal a large “representation gap” that typically accompanies populist candidates. Content analysis of campaign speeches shows that Trump, more so than any other candidate, employs a rhetoric that is distinctive in its simplicity, anti-elitism, and collectivism. Original survey data show that Trump’s supporters are distinctive in their unique combination of anti-expertise, anti-elitism, and pronationalist sentiments. Together, these findings highlight the distinctiveness of populism as a mechanism of political mobilization and the unusual character of the 2016 race.
KW - Donald Trump
KW - content analysis
KW - elections
KW - political representation
KW - populism
KW - public opinion
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U2 - 10.1177/0002716216662639
DO - 10.1177/0002716216662639
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84983565483
VL - 667
SP - 189
EP - 206
JO - Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
JF - Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science
SN - 0002-7162
IS - 1
ER -