Is it Politics or is it a Cult?

How Populist Leaders Use Cult Tactics to Gain, and Keep, Power.

Canada has a very pivotal election coming up on April 28th.

As always at MAR, we want to help our members, followers, and friends gain a greater understanding of what's going on around us so you can make an informed decision and, hopefully, be inspired to take social justice action.

Over the next couple of weeks, we will be sharing blogs, social media posts, and conversations to answer questions, dive deep into topics and concepts, and pull back the curtain on some of the tactics that keep us intentionally on edge, overwhelmed, and unsure of what to do.

Let's get started.

At first glance, political movements and cults might seem totally different. One is about leadership and public service. The other is about devotion and control.

But when we look closer, especially at populist and far-right movements, we see eerily similar strategies.

Let’s break it down:

1. Charismatic Leader as Savior Figure

In cults: The leader is elevated as all-knowing, uniquely chosen, or morally superior. They can do no wrong.

In populist politics: The leader presents themselves as the only one who can “fix” the country. They’re positioned as “the voice of the people,” immune to criticism, and always the victim of the system.

Watch for:

• “Only I can fix this.”

• “They’re coming after me because I’m telling the truth.”

• Extreme loyalty even when they contradict themselves or harm their base.

  
  

2. Us vs. Them Thinking

In cults: The group is pure. Everyone else is dangerous, brainwashed, or evil.

In populist politics: The base is “real Canadians,” and everyone else - immigrants, activists, journalists, academics - is a threat.

Watch for:

• “The elites.”

• “The media is lying to you.”

• “They want to destroy our way of life.”

This framing eliminates nuance and justifies cruelty.

3. Thought-Stopping Language

In cults: Questioning is seen as disloyal. Simple mantras or phrases are repeated to shut down critical thinking.

In politics: Slogans like “Make Canada Great Again”, “Protect Our Kids”, "Boots, not Suits" are used to shut down real debate and drown out complex conversations.

Watch for:

• Emotional buzzwords without clear policies

• Repeating slogans as truth

• Dismissing critics as “woke,” “radical,” or “unpatriotic”

  
  

4. Isolation from Outside Influence

In cults: Members are discouraged from consuming outside media or maintaining relationships with critics.

In populist movements: Followers are told not to trust mainstream media, educators, or institutions. Conspiracies replace facts.

Watch for:

• “Do your own research” (but only from pre-approved sources)

• Demonizing educators, public servants, and health professionals

• Creating echo chambers on social media

  
  

5. Sacrifice Without Accountability

In cults: Members give up money, relationships, or safety in service of the cause while the leader lives well and avoids scrutiny.

In politics: The public is told to accept suffering “for the greater good” (cuts to healthcare, loss of rights, austerity), while politicians enrich themselves or excuse their failures.

Watch for:

• “We all need to tighten our belts” (while billionaires get tax breaks)

• Blaming the vulnerable for systemic issues

• Deflecting responsibility for harm done

  
  

6. Hypocrisy as a Power Signal

In cults: The leader doesn’t have to live by the rules. Instead, they prove their dominance by breaking them.

In politics: Populist leaders get away with corruption, abuse, and contradictions because their base sees rule-breaking as strength, not weakness.

Watch for:

• “He’s not perfect, but he fights for us.”

• Excusing cruelty as honesty

• Tolerance for double standards because “at least he’s not like the others”

  
  

So… is it a cult?

Maybe not in the strictest sense. But if a political movement asks you to:

• Abandon critical thought

• Accept suffering as loyalty

• Fear outsiders

• Obey without question

• Ignore harm done to others (and yourself)

…then you’re not being led. You’re being controlled.

How to Protect Yourself

• Stay curious, not just convinced.

• Seek out diverse sources of information.

• Ask: “Who benefits from me believing this?”

• Watch what people do, not just what they say.

• Connect with community outside the bubble.

• Vote with your whole values—not just your fears.

Final Thought:

Not every political movement is a cult. But when loyalty is demanded over logic, when questions are treated as betrayal, and when cruelty is masked as conviction… it’s no longer about leadership. It’s about control.

Understanding the overlap between cult tactics and populist politics helps us spot manipulation, protect ourselves, and vote with intention, not fear.

You deserve better than a leader who only leads you in circles.

#PoliticalLiteracy #CultMentality #PopulismExplained #VoteWithPurpose #AuthoritarianismInDisguise #CdnPoli #HowTheyControlYou #StayCurious #NotASafeLeader #ParentingIsPolitical #MomsAgainstRacism