Demagogue

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Etymology

Greek dēmagōgos, from dēmos people (perhaps akin to Greek daiesthai to divide) + agōgos leading, from agein to lead — more at tide, agent

Definitions

  • 1 : a leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power
  • 2 : a leader championing the cause of the common people in ancient times

Description

A Demagogue is one practicing demagogy (also demagoguery) (Ancient Greek δημαγωγία, from δῆμος dēmos "people" and ἄγειν agein "to lead") is a strategy for gaining political power by appealing to the prejudices, emotions, fears and expectations of the public—typically via impassioned rhetoric and propaganda, and often using nationalist, populist or religious themes. Since its probable first use as a term by Aristophanes in his satire against the demagogue Cleon, the parameters of what is and is not demagogy are subject to considerable debate and ambiguity.

See also