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When I chose Arsenal as my team 35 years ago, I can’t explain why. It wasn’t the closest or most successful club, but over time, my attachment to it grew deeper and became a habit.
I’ve noticed that members of the political class who follow team sports are quicker to understand that Boris Johnson is like a football club. He has “fans” who joined for different reasons, such as Brexit or his vote-winning potential. However, once associated with him, there’s no turning back. Their ego and identity are tied to him now, just like in the circular process of fandom.
It should be clear now that western populism is not really about anything. Stop rationalizing it as a backlash against inequality or “neoliberalism”. The movement is driven by tribal feeling alone.
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In contrast, the “eastern” populists like Narendra Modi, Viktor Orbán, Vladimir Putin, and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have some substance to their political projects. Their supporters can be alienated if certain actions or statements are made.
However, western populists like Donald Trump and Boris Johnson have loyal followers who stick with them no matter what. Even when they break promises or endorse unexpected ideas, their supporters remain steadfast.
Trying to rationalize this tribalism is futile, yet intelligent individuals attempt it. British public discourse suggests curing populism with devolution of power, strategic plans for “red wall” towns, and collaborations between public and private sectors. These ideas may have their own merits, but they have little to do with why people support Johnson.
In this era of Nadine Dorries and scandals, western populism stands out for its emptiness rather than its impact on the average citizen’s life. The voters who brought it into power seem unperturbed by the betrayal. If Trump runs for president again in 2024, he would still garner a significant portion of the national vote. Similarly, if Johnson faced another leadership contest, his opponent would face a tough battle.
Back in 2016, populism may have been driven by grievances against capitalism, but that has long changed. It has become a game of tribalism.
Looking back, Johnson and Trump should not have been categorized as “strongmen” like Putin and Erdoğan. While they employ similar tactics, the difference in substance is vast. The eastern demagogues are nationalists, whereas the western ones embody nihilism, if they can be defined by an -ism at all.
And that’s a relief. It’s better to have a chance-taker than an ideologue. Better Johnson than Orbán. Ultimately, politics is more enjoyable as a team sport than an overthought pursuit.
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