Nationalism and Populism

The concepts of Nationalism and Populism exist in the sphere of people and their place in society. The concept of nationalism seems to be all-encompassing. All forms of populism exist within the nation which is aligned with the concept of nationalism. Dimensions of populism from the extreme left to the extreme right and their relation to the concept of nationalism are highlighted in this entry. Populism allows representatives to focus on their group against the elite, depending on the area of contestation. Its essential features are antipluralism, antielitism, and the juxtaposition of real people against elites. It can be seen as being essentially chameleonic and can fit into any sociopolitical situation. It can be found in the fabric of most political parties within the political spectrum. Nationalism is a discourse structured around the focal point of a nation, which is envisaged as a limited and sovereign community that exists temporally and is tied to a certain physical space. It is the principal context in which real people are represented, political arguments are placed, political thoughts and parties are formed, and electoral politics is played out. All public debate and contestation are formed and exist within the context of the nation.