Populism and Politics

By Cori Anderson ‘18

Associate Professor of Sociology Dr. Jackie Hogan’s latest research examines a 2016 election hot-button topic — populist rhetoric on immigration. Hogan’s paper, to be published this fall in the Journal of Intercultural Studies, analyzes immigration threat narratives she sees within right-wing populist groups such as the Tea Party.

The paper, “Floods, Invaders, and Parasites: Immigration Threat Narratives and Right-Wing Populism in the U.S., U.K. and Australia,” notes that populist groups justify their targeting of immigrants by citing threats to culture, security and the economy. Key findings show how political populism finds its roots in resentment and in fear.

Hogan sees current Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump as a prime example of these attitudes.

“His rhetoric appeals the kind of xenophobic fears that are the stock in trade of such groups,” Hogan said. “It’s hardly surprising that certain white supremacist groups are now enthusiastically supporting Trump’s candidacy. He gives dramatic voice to their fears and to their feelings of disenfranchisement.”

Research shows a rise in anti-immigrant sentiment, anti-immigrant legislation and anti-immigrant hate groups in the U.S. since the September 11, 2001, attacks. Those attitudes have become more pronounced since the 2008 rise of the Tea Party in Republican politics.

The Bradley professor said these attitudes should be questioned.

“Whenever we see rhetoric and policies that are based on stereotypes and xenophobia and motivated by fear, I think it is crucial that we challenge those claims,” Hogan said. “To allow those claims to go unexamined and unchallenged is to allow the demonization and abuse of whole groups of people—which I think most would agree is contrary to our national ideals.”

The College of Liberal Arts and Sciences previewed Hogan’s project at a lecture during the Spring 2015 semester. This research was co-authored by University of Idaho professor Dr. Kristin Haltinner.