Why ‘good populism’ is the wrong strategy to fight ‘bad populism’ | Cas Mudde

Many traditional parties are trying to co-opt the agenda of the radical right in order to defeat them. But various elections in 2018 reveal the limits of that approach

After the Dutch parliamentary elections of March 2017, the prime minister, Mark Rutte, triumphantly declared that “good populism” had defeated “bad populism”, a claim eagerly and uncritically repeated in media around the world. It confirmed received wisdom that the best way to defeat the populist radical right, is to co-opt a moderate version of their agenda, while excluding the party itself.

Few cared that Rutte’s claim rested on dubious empirical grounds: compared with the 2012 election, Rutte actually lost big (-5.2%), whereas Geert Wilder’s Party for Freedom (PVV) made gains (+3.0%) and was joined by a new far-right party, Forum for Democracy (FvD), with 1.8%, making their combined scored of 14.9%. That’s less than one percentage point lower than the PVV’s high score of 15.45% in 2010.

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Mother of student held over Ortega protest in global plea for help

Family of activist Amaya Eva Coppens, 24, appeal for help to ‘stop the repression’ of Nicaraguan government

The mother of a medical student facing more than 20 years in prison for protesting against the Nicaraguan government is appealing to the international community to put pressure on president Daniel Ortega’s regime.

Amaya Eva Coppens, a Belgian-Nicaraguan dual national, is due to stand trial in the capital Managua after being “abducted” in a raid by more than 30 riot police and paramilitaries on 10 September.

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Defense Secretary James Mattis says he ‘never’ discussed leaving job with Trump

Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, during a trip to Vietnam to boost ties with Hanoi, dismissed the idea he's leaving the Trump administration anytime soon. Defense Secretary James Mattis says he 'never' discussed leaving job with Trump Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, during a trip to Vietnam to boost ties with Hanoi, dismissed the idea he's leaving the Trump administration anytime soon.

NATO’s biggest threat now Trump administration

US President Donald Trump looks on as he holds a news conference after participating in the NATO Summit in Brussels, Belgium July 12, 2018. [Photo/Agencies] In a summit of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in Brussels on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump unleashed a barrage of criticism against NATO, saying that the NATO members' tariffs on US goods are unfair given that they are protected by the United States.

Origins of an Epidemic: Purdue Pharma Knew Its Opioids Were Widely…

Belgium attacker stabs 2 cops in Liege, shoots them with their own guns - Two policewomen were among three people killed in Belgium on Tuesday when a man stabbed them, took their guns and shot them in what authorities have since deemed a terror attack. - The third victim was a 22-year-old passenger NY21: Democrats say Ratigan voiced preference for Trump over Clinton - "He said, I would have voted for Trump.

The Note: How will the GOP reckon with the rise of ‘Bannonism’?

Steve Bannon, left, introduces U.S. senatorial candidate Roy Moore, right, during a campaign rally, Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2017, in Fairhope, Ala. Add The Note as an interest to stay up to date on the latest The Note news, video, and analysis from ABC News.

Pentagon approves six-month delay for transgender U.S. military recruits

U.S. Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis leaves a news conference after a NATO defence ministers meeting at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels, Belgium June 29, 2017. U.S. Secretary of Defence Jim Mattis leaves a news conference after a NATO defence ministers meeting at the Alliance headquarters in Brussels, Belgium June 29, 2017.

Trump threatens prosecution over Manchester attack leaks

U.S. President Donald Trump speaks beside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg at the start of the NATO summit at their new headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, May 25, 2017. REUTERS/Christian Hartmann London: President Donald Trump on Thursday described US intelligence leaks over the Manchester bombing as "deeply troubling" and threatened to prosecute those responsible, after a warning by British Prime Minister Theresa May to keep shared data "secure".

Trump Lectures NATO Leaders on Insufficient Defense Spending

U.S. President Donald Trump on Thursday lectured NATO leaders for spending what he sees as insufficient money on defense, and said the group should be more focused on terrorism. "The NATO of the future must include a great focus on terrorism and immigration as well as threats from Russia and on NATO's eastern and southern border.

Scientists Have Discovered An Entire System Of Earth-Like Exoplanets

In the latest news about the continued search for Earth-like planets outside the Solar System, NASA announced today the discovery of an entire system of Earth-like exoplanets orbiting a star just 40 light-years away: Not just one, but seven Earth-size planets that could potentially harbor life have been identified orbiting a tiny star not too far away, offering the first realistic opportunity to search for signs of alien life outside of the solar system. The planets orbit a dwarf star named Trappist-1, about 40 light years, or some 235 trillion miles, from Earth.

EU’s Schulz calls for review of ethics code after Barroso goes to Goldman

European Parliament President Martin Schulz speaking during a news conference after a meeting with Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos at the Narino palace in Bogota, Colombia, in this file photo dated August 23, 2016. Colombian Presidency /Handout via Reuters Former European Commission president Jose Manuel Barroso addresses a news conference at the EU Commission headquarters in Brussels, Belgium March 5, 2014.