Cardiff University | Prifysgol Caerdydd ORCA
Online Research @ Cardiff 
WelshClear Cookie - decide language by browser settings

Rethinking the politics of blame avoidance under populism: the UK, Covid-19, strategic lying, bullshit, boosterism and scapegoating

Andrews, Leighton ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9166-0116 2024. Rethinking the politics of blame avoidance under populism: the UK, Covid-19, strategic lying, bullshit, boosterism and scapegoating. Rhodes, R. A. W., Flinders, Matthew, Dmitiova, Gergana, Weaver, Kent and Hinterleitner, Marcus, eds. The Politics and Governance of Blame, Oxford: Oxford University Press,
Item availability restricted.

[thumbnail of Deferring Blame OUP chapter REVISED FINAL.pdf] PDF - Accepted Post-Print Version
Restricted to Repository staff only

Download (353kB)

Abstract

This chapter argues that while the UK response to Covid may be analysed using the standard models of the blame avoidance literature, the specific nature of the Covid response under a populist government needs a more critical engagement to draw out the specific approaches of populism, which itself is a strategy of blaming. This requires a stronger focus on the strategic action and intent of the government as it seeks to achieve a state of post-pandemic ‘blame decay’. Drawing on learning from Journalism Studies, the chapter identifies strategic populist approaches of lying, bullshit, boosterism, and scapegoating and suggests a revision of the blame avoidance typology to accommodate the populist responses.

Item Type: Book Section
Status: In Press
Schools: Business (Including Economics)
Subjects: J Political Science > JA Political science (General)
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Date of First Compliant Deposit: 11 January 2023
Last Modified: 17 Jan 2024 10:49
URI: https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/155648

Actions (repository staff only)

Edit Item Edit Item

Downloads

Downloads per month over past year

View more statistics