Tragedies Worth Celebrating? Rising Sensationalism in Populist Politics
Luc Cadwaladr-Evans, BA International Relations and Languages and Cultures
Populist politics has always employed sensationalist tactics to capture the attention of the public. Othering and scapegoating to garner the support of a majority is an ever-present and ongoing strategy in the populist handbook - and, in case you were wondering, small boat channel crossings are not the reason your energy bill is so high. Capitalising on outrage consistently proves the most captivating way to engage voters. Yet, increasingly, there seems to be a certain flamboyance to this charade that has, until now, been absent in recent Western memory. We are now seeing occasions which demand a sombre solemnity instead of bearing the same extravagance as would be found at a carnival.
Whilst the British political tradition has long sought to wear a dignified face and present itself as prudent and sensible, the unprecedented shift to the far-right with Nigel Farage and Reform UK has been accompanied by fanfare and fireworks. The bleakness of the situation painted by the Reform party - one in which the Great British identity faces sure-fire extinction without a drastic change of course - was not reflected in the tone of the party’s recent national conference. Instead, speaking guests were welcomed on stage with sparks literally flying around them, pints were being slung to attendees well before noon, and Dame Andrea Jenkyns, Mayor of Greater Lincolnshire, performed her own original song ‘Insomniac’ on stage in a bedazzled jumpsuit, closing out the festival with a unique and dragging take on ‘God Save the King.’ Though the rhetoric was often as incendiary as the surrounding fireworks, the overall atmosphere showed it to be quite a gleeful weekend. All told, September’s Reform Party National Conference makes even the antics of the Brexit campaign look like thoroughly mundane politics.
So, where has this newfound exuberance come from? It could well be a transatlantic import. Just a day prior to his party’s conference, Farage met with the figurehead of this particular flavour of populism, the man presiding over a similar explosion in political theatrics, Donald Trump. Although both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions have been extravagant affairs for years, the celebratory tone of American popcorn politics has reached an unthinkable extreme. A grieving republican may be forgiven for thinking they had mistakenly walked into Wrestlemania XLII on their way to Charlie Kirk’s memorial service. This must have been the first wake in history to have the bereaved widow enter, accompanied by a pyrotechnics display. In attendance were over 110,000 Americans. Absent? Both of Kirk’s parents. No doubt they mourned the loss of their son privately as the President vocalised threats to his opponents on the platform meant for honouring this loss. ‘I hate my opponent[s], and I don’t want the best for them,’ declared Trump, as applause roared through the stadium and beyond.
The scale of these political performances, utterly devoid of sincerity and earnestness, should deeply worry those who are not already caught up in them. This is not simply because they are divisive - of course they are designed to be as divisive as possible. Rather, the reason for such worry is the intention of such over-the-top, tone deaf, and tasteless affairs. That is, as it has always been, to monopolise attention.
Sensationalist headlines, viral clips, and outrageous speeches do wonders for any populist’s campaign. Whether through outrage or delight, these sensational moments captivate everyone, platforming the cause and gaining the exposure that populists feed off. This is the phenomenon and trap of populism itself. Winning the competition for exposure is key to the success of any political party, and populist ‘us versus them’ rhetoric is eaten up when reported on by the media. Very few news outlets, besides The Guardian, seem willing to point out the credible issue of Farage and Reform’s disproportionally huge amount of coverage and airtime given by mainstream media, an issue long predating the party’s soaring popularity in current polls. The reason is simple: it is not news. It is nothing new. We have seen these exposure farming methods time and time again. The difference is that it is now more shameless than ever before.
