Netanyahu's Populism: An Overlooked Explanation for Israeli Foreign Policy

When discussing the current "wave of populism" sweeping the globe, there are certain names one expects to hear—Donald Trump, Marine Le Pen, Geert Wilders, or "Brexit." Benjamin Netanyahu is not among them, but perhaps he should be. Since 2009, the Israeli Prime Minister has pushed his nation further to the political right than at any point in Israel's nearly seven decades of existence. He has done this through a set of political tactics that bears a close resemblance to those currently employed by some of the world's most prominent populist leaders. While Netanyahu has not escaped criticism, both at home and abroad, for his conduct as Israeli Prime Minister, he has avoided some of the harsher judgments levied against more notable figures identified with the populist movement, including the label of "populist" itself. Nevertheless, Netanyahu's actions, particularly in the realm of foreign policy, offer some of the best examples of how populist leaders operate once in power and the effects such actions can have in the global political arena. Using Jan-Werner Müller's interpretation of populism as a guide, this paper applies the lessons of populist leadership to Netanyahu's political style as Israeli Prime Minister. In doing so, it illustrates the ways in which populist politics can shape national foreign policy and affect the global order.