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How do leaders use populism?

Populist leaders often simplify complex issues, blaming a small 'elite' or 'outsiders' for problems, and presenting themselves as the voice of the 'ordinary people'. This tactic, seen in the far-right narratives targeting Britain, can bypass traditional media through platforms like Facebook, directly appealing to strong emotions and a sense of grievance among their audience.

Stories that explain this

Facebook ignores AI-generated far-right UK videos with millions of views

Questions this opens up

What is 'the elite'? How do leaders gain trust? What is 'us vs them'?

Related explainers

How do leaders make promises? What is populism? What is a 'common people'? Who are 'the elite'? Who funds investigations? How do groups form? Why is it important? What is investigative journalism?

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