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Words of power: An anthropological study of populist language and identity construction
Hulse, Ryan
Hulse, Ryan
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2025-05
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Populist movements have reshaped political landscapes worldwide, often intensifying societal polarization and challenging democratic norms. At the core of these movements lies the strategic use of language to mobilize support, construct collective identities, and reinforce an "us vs. them" narrative. This thesis examines the linguistic strategies of populist leaders through the lens of cultural anthropology, focusing on how rhetoric influences the masses and fosters public support. While populism can be studied across multiple disciplines, this research emphasizes its cultural-linguistic dimensions. Populist leaders construct cultural identities by appealing to shared values, symbols, and historical narratives, using language as a tool to create emotionally resonant movements. Their rhetoric simplifies complex issues, amplifies polarization, and undermines traditional institutions, shaping political realities through repetition, emotional appeals, and performative delivery.
Through a comparative analysis of Donald Trump’s "Make America Great Again" movement and Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s Justice and Development Party, this study explores how populist leaders adapt language to distinct cultural and historical contexts. Trump’s rhetoric draws on American nationalism and protectionism, while Erdoğan intertwines Turkish nationalism with Islamic identity and Ottoman history, both leverage emotion to reinforce their narratives. By analyzing speeches, social media posts, and interviews, this research reveals how populist rhetoric constructs crises, justifies radical actions, and shapes ideological divisions. While tailored to specific contexts, core elements of populist discourse; anti-elite sentiment, emotional mobilization, and societal polarization; remain consistent across cases.
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Thesis (M.A.)-- Wichita State University, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences, Dept. of Anthropology
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Wichita State University
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© Copyright 2025 by Ryan Hulse
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