Populism, media, and communication in the Asia Pacific: a case study of Rodrigo Duterte and Pauline Hanson

There is a growing consensus within the literature that the communication of populist actors and the role of traditional and digital media are crucial to an understanding of populism. On the one hand, populists are beneficiaries of consistent media attention and coverage, but on the other hand, they frequently attack the media as part of the ‘corrupt elite’. This chapter examines media populism, mediatization, the political communication styles of populist leaders, the effect of populist messages, the role of the media in the success of populist parties, and how social and digital media are used by populist actors. Through a comparative case study of two prominent right-wing populist politicians in the Asia Pacific region, Pauline Hanson (Australia) and Rodrigo Duterte (the Philippines), this chapter explores the communication styles of the respective leaders, their complex relationships with the media, and how they use social and digital media.