Mohamad Shukri, Syaza Farhana and Hassan, Isyraf (2025) Anwar Ibrahim’s civilisational populism: the Gaza war and Malaysia. Journal of Populism Studies, 1 (1). pp. 1-26. E-ISSN 2795-9058
|
PDF
- Published Version
Download (375kB) | Preview |
Abstract
This paper examines how Anwar Ibrahim, Malaysia’s tenth prime minister, employs civilisational populism in shaping his foreign policy rhetoric, particularly during the Gaza War that started in 2023. Through the lens of civilisational populism defined by Yilmaz and Morrison as a political strategy that constructs “the people” as defenders of a superior but threatened civilisation, the paper argues that Anwar leverages the Gaza/Palestinian cause to project Islamic solidarity and deflect domestic criticisms of liberalism. In doing so, he seeks to consolidate support against the conservative Islamist opposition, PAS, while maintaining international legitimacy. Drawing on the framework of Foreign Policy Decision Making (FPDM), the study emphasizes the role of individual agency, cognitive calculations, and domestic political pressures in guiding Malaysia’s external stance. Anwar’s rhetorical and symbolic actions such as mass rallies, public condemnations of Israel, and economic restrictions on Israeli-linked entities are analysed not simply as moral positioning but as calculated decisions aimed at managing political survival within a fragmented coalition. The paper highlights contradictions in this approach, such as the BlackRock controversy and local backlash over prioritizing Palestinian aid over domestic needs, revealing the tension between foreign policy idealism and domestic political pragmatism. By integrating FPDM with civilisational populism, the paper provides an understanding of how Malaysia’s foreign policy is not purely reactive or interest-based but shaped by identity politics, leadership perception, and populist imperatives.
| Item Type: | Article (Journal) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | J Political Science > JC Political theory > JC49 Islam and Politics J Political Science > JQ Political institutions Asia > JQ715 Politics and Government in Malaysia J Political Science > JZ International relations |
| Kulliyyahs/Centres/Divisions/Institutes (Can select more than one option. Press CONTROL button): | UNSPECIFIED |
| Depositing User: | Dr. Syaza Farhana Mohamad Shukri |
| Date Deposited: | 15 Oct 2025 23:04 |
| Last Modified: | 15 Oct 2025 23:04 |
| URI: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/id/eprint/123655 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |
Download Statistics
Download Statistics