Populism Dilemma

Who among us wouldn't want to be the most popular kid in the class? Or who wouldn’t be an employee of the month at work, being a shining star? Becoming the favorite of followers on social media, even attracting the attention of family or friends would do the same trick. Although there are certain exceptions, the key word here is popularity, and the identity conflict caused by the conceptual confusion that comes with it.

Attracting attention and breaking away from mediocrity have always been breaking points for humanity. The motivation to set out with the desire to do something that has never been done before continues in a historical line and has managed to become one of the dead ends of modernity. To stand out in the hustle and bustle of modern life, the individual has the desire to realize herself/himself, and in parallel with this situation, the desire to attract attention presents a correlation that cannot be underestimated. In this case, the popularity gained by continuing the action regardless of the condition may create results that conflict with the person's identity.

In the modern context, identity refers to the liberation of the individual instead of the social line, along with the transparency of borders. In this context, populism tests the limits that liberated individuals can exceed. In other words, individuals may sacrifice some values and manipulate them to gain the honor of being popular. Ethical values, social identity, and normative beliefs can be exemplified. In addition, the decision-making mechanism and the functioning of the mind may gain a different dimension with populism. Because the attitude taken to achieve results can negatively affect the individual's behavior and social position with the sweet poison of fame.

As a result, populism contains paradoxes regarding the individual's self-realization and determination of a person's social position. The position of populism in the modern world, as a magical atmosphere where believed values, logical processes, and reality are tested, is important as a sociological research topic.