"The politics of blame" among populists as Trump

 
TLDR
A new form of politics, led by figures like Trump and Johnson, embraces blame rather than avoiding it. By provoking controversy and antagonizing opponents, these politicians weaponize blame as a tool for support. To counter this, defenders of democracy should strategically avoid overreacting, codify rules, and reduce partisanship.
 
Traditional political wisdom holds that politicians seek to avoid blame at all costs, believing that public disapproval harms their careers. However, a new political tactic has emerged, particularly among populist leaders like Donald Trump and Boris Johnson, which flips this idea on its head.
 
These leaders provoke controversy and embrace blame, weaponizing it to gain support from their base. In this strategy, antagonism strengthens their legitimacy among disillusioned voters who see these leaders as "authentic" outsiders challenging the status quo. By being blamed for defying conventions or breaking rules, populist politicians reinforce their credibility with polarized constituencies.
 
This "blame-seeking" strategy is effective because it plays into the polarization of modern politics. When conventional politicians criticize or blame populists, it can increase their popularity by making them appear as victims of an unfair system. These blame-seekers thrive on controversy, rejecting apologies and doubling down on their rhetoric. However, such tactics risk deepening societal divisions and undermining democratic norms.
 
To counter blame-seeking, defenders of democracy must avoid reacting to every provocation. Overreacting only fuels the populists'populists' narrative. Instead, responses should be reserved for extreme violations of democratic norms, such as incitement to violence. Additionally, codifying clear rules and legal frameworks can prevent populists from exploiting loopholes in political norms.
 
Lastly, bridging partisan divides and rewarding politicians who refrain from blame-seeking could mitigate this strategy's effectiveness, encouraging more constructive political dialogue. Ultimately, blame-seeking represents a dangerous shift in political strategy, but careful, thoughtful responses can limit its impact on democratic institutions.
 
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