Internet Activism and the Populist Agenda

Populism as a concept has undergone transitions, and scholars have interpreted it in various ways. It has been perceived as an ideology, a political strategy deployed by people in positions of power, and even as being performative in nature (Osuna Olivas, Eur J Polit Res, 60:829–853, 2021). Populism has gained attention over the years due to its challenges to pluralist democracy and warrants deeper engagement in contemporary times. In this context, I engage with the relatively novel ways in which the populist agenda is promoted and disseminated across the world. Focusing mainly on the Indian context, I discuss the role of the internet and social media in popularizing right-wing populism.