UnHerd with Freddie Sayers Chris Bickerton: Welcome to the Technopopulist future
Jun 12, 2021
Chris Bickerton, a Reader in Modern European Politics at Queen's College Cambridge and author of 'Technopopulism', delves into the fascinating fusion of technocracy and populism in today's political landscape. He discusses how the pandemic blurred the lines, showcasing tensions between expert-led governance and populist sentiments. Bickerton highlights the evolving legitimacy in politics, critiques the prioritization of measurable outcomes, and warns of authoritarian tendencies. His insights invite reflection on the implications of this new technopopulist order.
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Fusion of Technocracy and Populism
- Technocracy and populism are typically seen as opposites, but modern politics fuses them into 'technopopulism'.
- Winning politicians combine popular appeal and demonstrable competence and expertise.
Boris Johnson's Techno-Populist Style
- Boris Johnson blends a populist image with technocratic delivery, focusing on 'getting Brexit done'.
- His success was due to combining popular touch with efficient governance.
Dominic Cummings as Techno-Populist
- Dominic Cummings embodies techno-populism by prioritizing technological expertise in politics.
- He views politics as direct policy delivery aligned with popular will, bypassing traditional political mediation.
