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{{Politics of Gylias}}

'''Populism in Gylias''' has had a long historical presence, and has contributed significantly to [[Politics of Gylias|Gylian politics]] in fusion with other ideologies such as [[Anarchism in Gylias|anarchism]], [[Communism in Gylias|communism]], and [[Socialism in Gylias|socialism]].

Populism, in the sense of an emancipatory social force through which marginalised groups challenge existing power structures, was a fundamental aspect of the [[Gylian ascendancy]], and has been a major factor in the Gylian practice of [[Politics of Gylias#Direct democracy|direct democracy]]. Populist themes and rhetoric have been employed by parties across the political spectrum, sometimes in a context synonymous with {{wpl|demagogue|demagogy}}.

At the federal level, there are relatively few parties that are described as "populist", due to the larger overlap between populism and other ideologies. Notable such parties include the {{G-NPP}} and {{G-PPFN}}.

==Characteristics==
The central populist theme is juxtaposing "the people" against "the elite". Different definitions of "the people" are used depending on political positioning, ranging from class on the {{wpl|left-wing politics|left}} to ethnicity on the {{wpl|right-wing politics|right}}. 

Populists regard "the people" as a morally positive force and "the elite" as an [[Adversary–enemy distinction|inimical]] and oppressive force to be fought against. Accordingly, they are strong supporters of {{wpl|popular sovereignty}} and opponents of concentration of power or wealth.

The bulk of Gylian populism has been shaped by the context of [[Gylian nationalism]], and thus defines "the people" in an inclusionary manner, resulting in [[Anarchism in Gylias|anarchist]] themes of "the elite" as attempts to impose authority. By contrast, the Gylian {{wpl|far-right politics|far-right}} employs [[Gylian nationalism#Gylicism|Gylicism]], perceiving the [[Gylic peoples]] as artificially divided and weakened by "elites".

==Variants==
Populist themes and rhetoric are easily adaptable across the political spectrum, and have generated different styles based on political alignments.

===Left-wing populism===
Left-wing populism denotes the use of populist themes in service of left-wing goals. Common themes include opposition to {{wpl|capitalism}} and economic {{wpl|globalisation}}, {{wpl|anti-militarism}}, and {{wpl|social justice}}.

Gylian left populists tend to support free movement of people but vehemently oppose free movement of capital. They have been notable supporters of strict {{wpl|capital control}}s in the [[Common Sphere]].

===Right-wing populism===
Right-wing populism denotes the use of populist themes in the service of right-wing goals. Generally, right-wing populism has been opposed to the [[Gylian consensus]] either as a whole or specific elements of it.

Right-wing populism is shunned in Gylias as a politically unacceptable style further to the right than [[Conservatism in Gylias|mainstream Gylian conservatism]]. The demagogical and simplistic style of right populists also creates an area of overlap with the far-right.

==History==
Gylian populism is a largely modern phenomenon, emerging out of the emphasis on democratisation of the [[Gylian ascendancy]] and Gylian resistance to [[Xevden]].

Populist themes were widespread among major Gylian ideologies in the late 19th and early 20th century, including [[Anarchism in Gylias|anarchism]], [[Communism in Gylias|communism]], [[Socialism in Gylias|socialism]], [[Conservatism in Gylias|conservatism]], and [[Liberalism in Gylias|liberalism]]. The experience of Xevdenite discrimination and impoverishment contributed to the predominance of left-wing populist rhetoric, and a liberal stance on social issues, manifested through alliances with the [[Feminism in Gylias|feminist]] and {{wpl|LGBT rights movement}}s.

Populism manifested strongly in the form of [[Alscia#Direct democracy|Alscia]] and the [[Free Territories (Gylias)|Free Territories]]' use of {{wpl|direct democracy}}, consolidating a tradition of [[Politics of Gylias#Politicians|strong political involvement by ordinary people]]. The [[Communal assemblies (Gylias)|communal assemblies]] became the primary tool of self-governance; their primacy and strong constraints on the powers of [[Politics of Gylias#Government|legislative and executive bodies]] have fundamentally impacted the practice of Gylian populism.

After the creation of the [[President of Gylias|presidency]], the first presidential elections of [[Gylian presidential election, 1961|1961]], [[Gylian presidential election, 1967|1967]], and [[Gylian presidential election, 1972|1972]] have been described by some commentators as "populist politics done well", as [[List of political parties in Gylias|parties]] and {{wpl|electoral bloc}}s officially recruited or supported well-known civic or cultural figures as candidates for the presidency. 

The employment of famous or representative presidential candidates has remained constant in Gylian presidential elections, and has also become a feature of the [[Gylian Senate|Senate]], manifested in groups like the [[Fine arts salon (Gylian Senate)|"fine arts salon"]]. This emerged out of the broader phenomena of [[Culture of Gylias#Luxury|socialised luxury]] and [[Socialism in Gylias#''Aristerokratia''|''aristerokratia'']] during the [[Golden Revolution]].

[[File:Eva Duarte by Annemarie Heinrich, 1944 (later Eva Péron).jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Maria Elena Durante]]]]
[[Maria Elena Durante]] achieved notable success as the leader of the {{G-MED}}, an explicitly left-wing populist formation in the 1960s–1970s. The MED based its program on {{wpl|economic nationalism}} and wealth distribution, and relied on charismatic authority and "crude [[Communism in Gylias|communist]] rhetoric". 

Political analysts argue the MED channelled much of the "demagogic tendency" that was left inchoate by the Golden Revolution's suppression of {{wpl|reactionary|reactionism}} and {{wpl|social conservatism}}. After its dissolution in 1972, much of its support later moved to the {{G-RR}}.

During the [[Conservatism in Gylias#Gylias|"constructive"–"recalcitrant" battle]] for supremacy over [[Conservatism in Gylias|Gylian conservatism]], the "recalcitrant" {{G-CC}} featured several parties with a right-wing populist orientation. Right-wing populism also appeared in the far-right {{G-FROS}} before it consolidated a new profile based on {{wpl|palingenetic ultranationalism}} and a {{wpl|national anarchism|veneer of anarchism}}.

The crises of the [[wretched decade]] saw a rise in protest voting and the appearance of new right-wing populist formations. These were nicknamed "molehill parties" — after the idiom ''mountain out of a molehill'' — due to their specific antagonism towards certain aspects of the [[Gylian consensus]]. 

Notable "molehill parties" included the {{wpl|tax protester}} {{G-PFT}}, the anti-{{wpl|vegetarianism}} {{G-PFF}}, the {{wpl|anti-environmentalism|anti-environmentalist}} {{G-AFP}}, and later the pro-fishing {{G-CRFP}} and pro-consumption {{G-PCF}}. They tended to be {{wpl|single-issue party|single-issue parties}}, and prone to radicalisation, causing most of them to be shut down for anti-constitutional activities due to the ''[[dérive au droite]]''.

[[File:MielikkiSalonen(small).jpg|thumb|200px|right|[[Mielikki Salonen]]]]
Voters' backlash to established blocs' delay in confronting the crisis led to a [[Non-inscrits (Gylias)|non-inscrit]] breakthrough at the [[Gylian federal election, 1990|1990 federal election]]. The largest beneficiary was the {{G-NAF}}, a populist party led by [[Mielikki Salonen]], based on {{wpl|techno-progressivism}} and {{wpl|syncretic politics}}. The NAF's emphasis on syncretism gave it a broadly centre-left orientation, and it is considered the closest equivalent of a {{wpl|Third Way}} entity in Gylian politics.

The reforms of the [[Mathilde Vieira government]] also produced "molehill parties". The {{G-CRFP}} and {{G-PCF}} were marginal and ultimately succumbed to the ''[[dérive au droite]]''. 

By contrast, the {{G-PPFN}} has become the most successful "molehill party", by pursuing a more left-wing course and cultivating a [[Demopolis|demopolitan]] and [[Culture of Gylias#Luxury|socialised luxury]] image, aided by its association with [[Readymade Records]] and the broader [[Neo-Gylian Sound]] scene.

[[Category:Political movements of Gylias]]