The concept that concerns us in this review has a recurring use in the field of politics.
Political strategy that appeals to the feelings and emotions of the public to get their favor and vote
Demagoguery is a political strategy used by many political leaders, which, mainly, is characterized by the excessive use of flattery, false promises, promotion of radical ideas, among others, in order to get in this way the attention and vote of the people. The feelings and emotions of the population are the main focus to be captured by the demagoguery.
Negative connotation in the popular conception due to its connection with lies
We must emphasize that demagoguery has a negative connotation in current politics, since it is linked especially to false promises, lies and a staging by the candidate in which there is very little spontaneous and natural in his sayings and Actions.
Appeal to emotions and use of rhetoric and propaganda
Basically he who makes use of demagoguery, to promote his political program, will use the appeal to the emotions of its recipients, hates, unfinished desires, hates, dreams, fears, among others and will be the main points that will be touched on the way of trying to get the people's yes towards the proposal that is upheld, while they will be rhetoric and propaganda, the main allies that the politician will have to transmit his message, his proposal.
For example, when at the behest of a political campaign, a candidate takes pre-eminent care to highlight those problems or conflicts that will arise from not choosing his proposal and opting for that of his rival, with the clear objective of triggering fear among citizens, it is said that he himself is making use of demagoguery.
Likewise, when also in the context of a presidential campaign, one of the candidates promises and promises solutions, which are obvious are not so simple and easy to solve and that require other attention than the one proposed to be resolved, we are facing a very clear case of popular demagogy.
Smile and hug, we're filming it
Another resource that politicians use a lot in the campaign and that is a clear example of demagoguery is to be smiling all the time, even if the situation does not warrant it, and especially when the television cameras take them. Also when the cameras say they are present, they tend to be very affectionate with the public that follows them, for which they distribute kisses and hugs for all of them, take photos and even carry the children offered by their followers on litters.
Degradation of democracy
Many observers and political analysts often refer to demagoguery as a degradation of democracy and they argue that at one point it is inevitable that in democracy and as a consequence of that need and aspiration to stay in power, politicians will take advantage of this type of practice. Who first identified it as a degradation of democracy was the Greek philosopher Aristotle.
Applied Resources
Common remedies for demagoguery include the following: fallacies, omissions, false dilemma, demonization, statistics out of context, distraction strategies and language manipulation.
Appreciation of the authentic and spontaneous
Voters today often demand that their leaders and candidates for executive or legislative office not use demagoguery as a form of politics and, on the contrary, show themselves more authentic and sincere. For example, these days it is usually those politicians who show themselves in front and behind the scenes as they are and are not in poses all the time, wanting to please everyone.
Ancient Greece: dictatorial government with popular support
Secondly, In Ancient Greece, that government of a dictatorial type, but which had the support of the majority of the population, used to be referred to as demagoguery..
Precisely the great Greek philosophers, Aristotle and Plato, linked authoritarianism with demagoguery, because they considered that all tyrannical regimes were born from demagogic practice with the people and with all their followers. In this way, they eliminated any type of opposition and, since they believed themselves to be the only ones capable of interpreting the desire of the masses, they threw away all the power of representation and unfailingly installed a tyrannical and highly authoritarian government.
Deliberate manipulation of your interlocutors
Also, when in a context totally removed from politics, someone displays a deliberate manipulation of your interlocutors in order to gain the favor of another, there is also talk of demagoguery and whoever performs this behavior will be called a demagogue.
