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How are populism and class consciousness different, and how do they overlap? (sh.itjust.works)
submitted 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago) by AcidiclyBasicGlitch@sh.itjust.works to c/politicaldiscussion@lemmy.world
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This legitimately isn't meant to be a gotcha question or an attack on any political ideology. I just want to get a better understanding of why class consciousness is only applicable to the left, and the concept of populism (while it does seem to be increasingly applied to both sides of the political spectrum in certain cases) seems to be reserved as a term used for the right.

Regardless of historical ties (like class consciousness originating from Marxism) from my understanding (which admittedly is very basic for both concepts), populism doesn't have to necessarily focus on class issues or class solidarity. However, when you look at the way somebody like Trump uses populism to target a voting base, it very clearly is doing this by promising the working class a way to "pull themselves up by their bootstraps." Or, by attacking the "educated elites" on the left (who he, and many on the right, also accuse of being "cultural Marxists").

My very basic understanding of class consciousness, is the awareness individuals have regarding their place within a hierarchy of social classes and their common shared interests.

Again, I understand that populism doesn't have to be used this way, but in Trump's case, regardless of why and how a billionaire would need to define the "elite" to reach his voter base, Trump's form of populism very much seems to rely on defining a class, and an "us vs them," strategy that he promises will allow members of the working class to achieve a common interest.

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