Hypocrisy, authenticity, and the rhetorical dynamics of populism

Abstract

Charges of hypocrisy are a feature of public life: government actions contradict their own commitments; private failings of public figures are exposed in the media. However, declining trust in politicians has coincided with the rise of populists vowing to sweep away “elite” corruption – to “drain the swamp” in Donald Trump’s phrase. In populist rhetoric, the “will of the people” is honest and unambiguous, its disregard for accepted norms proof of its courage and authenticity. This chapter first proposes a typology of hypocrisy allegations in mainstream British media. Then, through analysis of examples from coverage of climate activism, it shows how, in populist discourse, allegations of hypocrisy serve to stifle debate and discredit valid positions, while reinforcing the authenticity of the popular will.