ECONOMIC INSECURITIES AND POPULIST RESURGENCE: USA AND INDIA

Sahar Imran, Dr. Umair Rafique

Abstract

The resurgence of populist leaders in contemporary politics has significantly
altered the democratic landscape, posing challenges to traditional political
establishments and democratic processes. By exploring the delicate interplay
of economic anxieties, populist ideologies, and nationalist rhetoric, this
research sheds light on the mechanisms through which populist leaders exploit
economic insecurities to consolidate power and gain the support of the people.
Through a comparative analysis of the USA and India, specifically, this
research aims to delve into the wider ramifications of this shift, particularly
focusing on how economic anxieties among the population are exploited by
these populist political parties and their leaders, such as the Bharatiya Janata
Party (BJP) in India and the Republican Party in the United States, to garner
support for their political aims. This study endeavours to achieve important
insights into the complex dynamics of economic anxieties, focusing on how
these economic insecurities affect the overall democratic process within a state.
The research aims to further the understanding and knowledge regarding
populism and nationalism and how they are used to fuel rhetoric for populist
leaders.