Ten - Populist politics and democracy in the UK: implications for community development

Summary

Introduction

There is little doubt that we are living in uncertain and unpredictable times that are marked by significant and profound political and social upheavals and changes in almost all countries and regions of the world. These changes are even greater now that we are dealing with the outcome of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic. One of the major features of this changing and emerging phenomenon, and a major theme of this edited book, is the rise of populist politics, something which is as notable in the UK as it is elsewhere. As outlined in this chapter, British populist politics, and in particular right-wing populist politics, has been with us for some time and its well-known characteristics have over different time periods had significant implications for communities, for the theory and practice of community development, and for those presently involved in the activity in the UK, where it has suffered substantial financial cutbacks.

After a short working definition of populism which assists locating the issues raised in the chapter, a brief outline is provided of the history of populist politics in the UK, which in modern times dates from the 1930s. In this consideration the study looks at the implications of populism and how, at different times, communities threatened by the outcome of populist activity and policies responded, and how community development has evolved in reaction to this phenomenon. It then offers an overview of the shape and meaning of the present rise in populist politics in the UK, which it is argued can be traced back to the impact of the 2008 global financial crash and the subsequent imposition by successive British governments of economic austerity, all of which has caused considerable economic and social stress in communities. The global crash was followed in the UK with revelations a year later of what became known as the ‘parliamentary expenses scandal’, which was to change people's view of politicians. Immigration has always been a contentious issue in the UK and it too has fed into the rise of populism.