Islamist populism? Exploring the MENA region from a comparative and empirical perspective

Abstract

[EN] Based on the Global Party Survey (GPS) database, this research article explores the interaction between populism and Islamism in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) party systems. Drawing on the ideational approach to populism, this analysis shows that Islamist parties do not share a common populist profile. Rather, we can speak of three broad profiles according tSalamanca, Spain, Institute of Iberoamericao the three main dimensions of populism. While the Moroccan Party of Justice and Development (PJD) displays a populism dominated by people-centrism, the Rally of Algerian Hope (TAJ), the Tunisian En-Nahda (EN), and the Jordanian Islamic Action Front (IAF) profiles are dominated by anti-elitism. On the other hand, the Turkish Justice and Development Party (AKP) is heavily influenced by Erdogan’s leadership and its strongman impetus.