Pierre Poilievre: The Secret to His Success
How the Conservative leader is harnessing the growing tide of authoritarianism in Canada
Poilievre has been short on detailed policy positions but long on anger. It’s hard not to think that’s by design. Populist leaders offer an emotionally powerful message about the relationship between the “people,” whom the leader represents, and the “elite,” who stand in the way of the people getting what they want. But, beyond that, there is often no credible program for organizing society. This is why authoritarian populism is better understood as a recipe rather than a philosophy. It is a set of techniques for winning power, refined and honed by electoral entrepreneurs who observe what is happening in one jurisdiction, adjust for regional differences, and apply the lessons elsewhere. After several stillborn efforts in Canada—personified recently by Maxime Bernier and his People’s Party of Canada—Poilievre has cooked up something that appeals to the palates of a growing number of Canadians.
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Illustration by Michael Byers (michaelcbyers.com)
