Differences between populist and non-populist approaches to science-based policies: The cases of climate change, COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine campaigns in the 2021 pre-election term of Germany

This study explains the differences between populist and non-populist approaches toward science-based debates which have been increasing in recent times such as the COVID-19 Pandemic, vaccine campaigns and climate change. This study compared the populist leaders of the Alternative for Germany Party (Tino Chrupalla and Prof. Dr. Jörg Meuthen) and Olaf Scholz as a non-populist who is the chancellor candidate of the SPD Party. The comparison was made via their tweets focusing on the last 4-months period of Germany's 2021 election period. The most prominent finding of the triangle of populism, science and democracy is that policies based on scientific knowledge and the principle of public representation of democracy are not always comprehensive mutually. Although some studies underline more ideology-based factors, this study explains how populism-based discourses, such as the general will of the people, shaped attitudes toward science-based policies and host ideologies of populism such as right-wing and left-wing only played a reinforcement role. According to the comparison of the tweets of Olaf Scholz and AfD Party leaders; i) While populist leaders attacked restrictive policies regarding climate change and the COVID-19 Pandemic, Scholz emphasized that restrictive policies are vital and necessary, ii) while populist leaders totally prioritized the economical interests of the citizens against restrictive policies, Olaf Scholz interpreted as constructive the economic consequences of green industry transformation iii) While Scholz underlined the great importance of international cooperation, populist leaders mentioned little or didn't support the cooperation of international organizations on climate change and the COVID- 19 Pandemic iv) While Scholz made no references to scientists, populist leaders openly attacked scientists and scientific institutions v) While Scholz did not include any disinformation, Prof. Dr. Jörg Meuthen who is the leader of the AfD appealed to disinformation in his some tweets.