Populism, ontological security and the sense of belonging at times of war and energy crisis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.60054/PEU.2022.9.197-206Keywords:
populism, populist parties, ontological security, migration, identityAbstract
Conflicts and uncertainty usually bring about encapsulation within primordial identities (related to the notion that nations or ethnic identities are fixed, natural and thus sustainable) and deepening the sensitivity about “self” and “other-ness”. The logic and necessity for survival develops a specific psychological set-up pertinent to ontological security, border-thinking permeating all levels of public and individual life: cognitive, identity-related and material. The migration crisis after 2015 just strengthened this line of thinking and arouse populist rhetoric.
Scepticism about the EU runs deeper and wider than populism. The vigour and dynamism of populism has triggered the end of the permissive consensus which allowed the EU and member states’ governments to carry out business with limited challenge from their citizens, especially in those policy domains of less interest or impact on citizens’ lives. Challenges today arise from nearly every aspect of foreign policy: war and trade sanctions, energy supplies volatility, trade, development aid, immigration and external migration policies, belonging to the international community and its institutions, alliances and organizations. It is more difficult than ever for politicians and policymakers to sustain credibility and provide societal integrity.
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