The rise of populism in Britain: breakthrough of the United kingdom independence party in between 2010-2015

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Thesis Type: Postgraduate

Institution Of The Thesis: Middle East Technical University, Turkey

Approval Date: 2018

Thesis Language: English

Student: Mustafa Melih Yılmazer

Supervisor: BAŞAK ZEYNEP ALPAN

Abstract:

In this thesis, it is aimed to provide a comprehensive understanding with regards to the rise of populism in Britain, particularly in the years between 2010 and 2015 in the context of the United Kingdom Independence Party (UKIP). Firstly in this respect, the concept of populism is investigated on in a detailed way; and its growing appearance in British politics is discussed in detail. In order to understand the rise of populism in British politics in the context of UKIP between 2010-2015, the enabling conditions which have created suitable political and social environment for a right-wing populist party, UKIP, were determined and examined. As a following step, UKIP’s populist political agendas as response to those enabling conditions were presented and discussed. In the end, it is found out that the rise of populism in Britain in the context of UKIP between 2010 and 2015 is a result of unprecedented harmony and connection between enabling conditions and UKIP’s responses to those conditions in this specific timeframe through featured populist political agendas. Additionally, the overall impact of the rise of populism through UKIP on British politics is evaluated in the thesis; and it is demonstrated that UKIP’s rise has indirectly change the British mainstream political party system by affecting major parties’ policy choices and internal dynamics; also started to shape existing public agendas of British electorate.