UC Irvine

This dissertation examines the phenomenon of populist politics in Israel, asking when and why populism rose to power. Employing a multi-method approach, the study combines content analysis and case studies of Israeli prime ministers from 1977 to 2023. Through systematic analysis of their rhetoric and an in-depth contextual examination of policies, the research classifies leaders based on their adherence to populism. Contrary to conventional wisdom, the findings challenge the notion that populism in Israel can be traced back to the Likud party's inception in the 1970s, instead identifying it as a more recent phenomenon surfacing around the 2015 election cycle. Consequently, the characterization of the Likud as historically populist is refuted, as is the classification of Menachem Begin as a populist leader. Instead, the study suggests that Benjamin Netanyahu strategically adopted populism later in his career in an attempt to ensure his political survival in light of his legal challenges. The theoretical framework draws on contemporary conceptualizations of populism, emphasizing its people-centric, anti-elitist, and anti-pluralist nature. Furthermore, the study delves into the practical implications of the ongoing conceptual debate in the literature, illustrating how applying diverse conceptualizations to specific cases impacts the analysis. This dissertation contributes to both conceptual clarification and empirical analysis, shedding light on the dynamics of populism and its effects on democracy.