Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Free Markets: ALEC's Populist Constructions of "the People" in State Politics

Author

Anne Sherwood, The University of Montana

Year of Award

2014

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Type

Master of Arts (MA)

Degree Name

Communication Studies

Department or School/College

Department of Communication Studies

Committee Chair

Steve Schwarze

Commitee Members

Anthony Johnstone, Sara Hayden

Keywords

neoliberalism, neoconservatism, populism, populist frame, wisconsin, scott walker

Abstract

The American Legislative Exchange Council, or ALEC, has been championing neoliberal and neoconservative bills relatively unnoticed in statehouses across the country for years. Using the populist frame, I contend that ALEC creates a new subject position for its corporate and legislative members as small business owners and virtuous entrepreneurs. This rhetoric is also on display in Wisconsin, where Governor Scott Walker utilizes populist rhetoric to constitute "the people" as workers.

Recommended Citation

Sherwood, Anne, "Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Free Markets: ALEC's Populist Constructions of "the People" in State Politics" (2014). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 4214.
https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/4214