@article{baba7ce8040b4b0d944ca79a4668d681,
title = "The state as a firm: Understanding the autocratic roots of technocratic populism",
abstract = "Why, when, and how does populism emerge in a stable democracy? This article investigates the political logic and ideological appeal of a rarely explored form of populism: technocratic populism. Technocratic populism uses the appeal of technical expertise to connect directly with the people, promising to run the state as a firm, while at the same time delegitimizing political opponents and demobilizing the electorate by instilling civic apathy. Technocratic populism is an anti-elite ideology that exploits competence to create the appearance of authenticity and proximity to ordinary people. It is less exclusionary than nativist or economic forms of populisms and its broad appeal is therefore arguably more threatening to representative democracy. In order to understand the appeal of technocratic populism, as well as why it arises at critical junctures when dominant ideologies are in turmoil, we argue that one must not ignore its historical roots, which shows that it transcends both regime changes and the traditional left–right divide. The article develops and examines these points using evidence from communist-era populist campaigns against “elitist” dissidents (from Charter 77) in the Czech Republic, and demonstrates how post-1989 politicians have exploited and also adapted ideas and strategies from the authoritarian past for the new democratic setting. The article highlights the adaptive character of technocratic populism across political regimes.",
keywords = "Czech Republic, Dissidents, Legacies, Political parties, Technocratic populism",
author = "Lenka Bu{\v s}t{\'i}kov{\'a} and Petra Guasti",
note = "Funding Information: an earlier version of this article was presented at the association for the Study of Nationalities World Convention, The Harriman Institute, Columbia University, 2018; the Multiculturalism in europe Workshop at the University of Texas at austin, 2018, and at the 24th International Conference of europeanists in 2017 (glasgow, UK). We are thankful to Krzysztof Jasiewicz for comments as well as to the participants of the panel: Left, Right, or Wrong? The (Ir)Relevance of the Left–Right Continuum in analysis of Party Politics in europe Today. We thank Milada anna Vachudova and Sean Hanley for inspiring discussions about aNO and we thank grzegorz ekiert for very helpful comments on a much earlier version of this article. We also thank the anonymous reviewer, Michael Kraus, Raymond Taras, amy Liu, Colette Mazzucelli, John Ishiyama, ana Bracic, Johanna Birnir, William Mishler, Rahsaan Maxwell, Claire adida, Roman Hlatky, alena Miltov{\'a}, Zdenka Mansfeldov{\'a}, and David Siroky for comments. The project has received funding from the Project “Changes in the Perception of the Role of government after the Crisis. The Czech Republic in Comparative Perspective” (no. 16-04885S [2016 e 2018]) supported by the Czech Science Foundation. Research was also funded by Davis Center, Harvard University, as part of one of the author{\textquoteright}s thesis on the rise and fall or moral capital of Charta 77 dissidents, and by the Melikian Center, arizona State University. We are very grateful to Simona Patkova and Chirasree Mukherjee for excellent research assistance. Funding Information: An earlier version of this article was presented at the Association for the Study of Nationalities World Convention, The Harriman Institute, Columbia University, 2018; the Multiculturalism in Europe Workshop at the University of Texas at Austin, 2018, and at the 24th International Conference of Europeanists in 2017 (Glasgow, UK). We are thankful to Krzysztof Jasiewicz for comments as well as to the participants of the panel: Left, Right, or Wrong? The (Ir)Relevance of the Left–Right Continuum in Analysis of Party Politics in Europe Today. We thank Milada Anna Vachudova and Sean Hanley for inspiring discussions about ANO and we thank Grzegorz Ekiert for very helpful comments on a much earlier version of this article. We also thank the anonymous reviewer, Michael Kraus, Raymond Taras, Amy Liu, Colette Mazzucelli, John Ishiyama, Ana Bracic, Johanna Birnir, William Mishler, Rahsaan Maxwell, Claire Adida, Roman Hlatky, Alena Miltov{\'a}, Zdenka Mansfeldov{\'a}, and David Siroky for comments. The project has received funding from the Project “Changes in the Perception of the Role of Government after the Crisis. The Czech Republic in Comparative Perspective” (no. 16-04885S [2016 e 2018]) supported by the Czech Science Foundation. Research was also funded by Davis Center, Harvard University, as part of one of the author{\textquoteright}s thesis on the rise and fall or moral capital of Charta 77 dissidents, and by the Melikian Center, Arizona State University. We are very grateful to Simona Patkova and Chirasree Mukherjee for excellent research assistance. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 Sage Publications.",
year = "2019",
month = may,
day = "1",
doi = "10.1177/0888325418791723",
language = "English (US)",
volume = "33",
pages = "302--330",
journal = "East European Politics and Societies",
issn = "0888-3254",
publisher = "SAGE Publications Inc.",
number = "2",
}