Populism in Foreign Policy: Shifting Paradigms in Greek Political Parties

Abstract

Has populism affected the foreign policy narratives of Greek political parties? The purpose of this article is to present a different perspective of foreign policy looking at policy paradigms (beliefs, norms and values) that shape its outlook and political narratives. These paradigms develop inter alia inside political parties themselves. Given the presence of both left-wing and right-wing populism, Greece becomes an interesting testing ground to explore the effect of populism on foreign policy paradigms. In connecting parties and political positions in the realm of foreign policy, this article renders the lens of populism to examine the foundations of these political positions in foreign policy narratives. Investigating the party manifestos of Greek political parties for all elections between 2009 and 2015 can determine changes, continuity and shifts in policy paradigms and assess the impact of populism in the creation of foreign policy narratives. Populism has led to a more polarised foreign policy narrative to be developed reflecting the deep ideological polarisation that the advent of populist parties as serious contenders to government have caused in Greece. (English) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]