Populism in Europe and the Americas: Threat or Corrective for Democracy (original) (raw)
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Transformations of populism in Europe and the Americas: history and recent tendencies
European Review of History: Revue européenne d'histoire, 2017
The book Transformations of Populism in Europe and Americas: History and Recent Trends came as a product of the 'Transformations of Populism in Europe and the U.S.: History, Theories and Recent Tendencies' conference which was organized in 2011 at Buffalo State College. As stated by the authors, the volume presented here is 'the first trans-continental comparative historical study of populism' (p. xiii) since the book Populism: Its Meanings and National Characteristics was published by Ernst Gellner and Ghita Ionescu in 1969. Transformations of Populism is divided into three main parts: New Historical Perspectives on Populism; Historical Theories of Populism; and Recent Tendencies in Populist Movements in Latin America, Europe, and the United States. In their Introduction, the editors of the volume engaged, in short, into the examination and reassessment of populism as such. Based on the articles published in this volume the editors wished to provide answers to some of the questions raised by the authors. They engaged in the question of whether there can be such a thing as an ideal type of 'populist minimum' and their conviction 'that it is useful analytically to construct a "populist minimum", because there are a number of characteristics that nearly all populist movements share in common' (p. xiii). For this, they provide a set of characteristics shared by all or most populist movements, as well as a 10-point table of comparison between what they defined, progressive or reactionary populism.
The Vices and Virtues of “Populisms”
Sociologia, 2019
In this short essay, I will try to define contemporary populism in a “neutral” fashion; and to explore its virtues, as well as its (much better known) vices. To conclude, I shall attempt to draw up a balance sheet between its contrasting contributions to contemporary political life in Europe. To accomplish this, I will have to speak “generically” and, therefore, to ignore or set aside the traits populism has had and the outcomes it has produced in specific cases. I begin with the (hazardous) position that it can be good or bad for democracy… depending. And I will finally try to address the issue of the conditions under which it is more likely to harm or benefit the polity in which it has emerged.
2021
This paper is about populism and populists. It is a broad topic. It concerns also a controversial topic. A phenomenon we call "populism" is a global problem and beyond borders. Certainly, when we speak of populism, we think of some aggressive, divisive politics, and when we think of populists, we bear in mind such politicians like Donald Trump, Victor Orbán, Jarosław Kaczyński, Nigel Farage, Geert Wilders, Jair Bolsonaro, etc. But take such a general question: is every politician who promises everything to everybody a populist? Is this not true that those who are called "populists" are democratically elected? How to describe such leaders as Orbán or Bolsonaro? My aim is to conceptualise these phenomena, i.e. populism and populists. I propose to define what populism is and who populists are. First, I will present contemporary scholars's ideas. Second, I will go to history of ideas, precisely, to considerations by Aristotle and de Tocqueville. Finally, I will make concluding remarks. This paper is to understand, not to blame. It is also to consider what kinds of arguments are made by those whom we call "populists". Moreover, this is to think whether "populism" is a relevant term and one should try to describe this phenomenon in a subtler and non-pejorative way where "naming is not blaming". This is a theoretical aspect of the paper. Considerations by Austrian, Dutch, Brazilian, Polish, Finnish and Hungarian scholars are used in the paper. There is also a historical aspect: What would Aristotle and de Tocqueville say about "demagogues"? There is also a practical aspect of the paper: chosen contemporary politicians are mentioned. In particular, the author is very much familiar with the real leader of Poland (after 2015) Jarosław Kaczyński's ideology. 2 Methodologically speaking: my narrative is mostly related to the Western world. I focus on the literature and my own observations. The aim is to describe these phenomena in a neutral, objective and non-emotional way. My thesis is that we can define populism and populists, however, such process involves blaming. I claim that populism is a danger for the rule of law, democracy and human rights. It is also a danger for high political and legal culture. However, there are always some reasons behind populism: from social-economic to cultural ones. We have to understand those reasons. I also claim that we can learn some lessons from populism.
Populism: Some Conceptual Problems
Political Studies Review, 2009
With Populist Radical Right Parties in Europe, Cas Mudde (2007) may have written a true classic in political science. He combines a clear and coherent conceptual framework with a broad and critical survey of the literature in four languages-few significant titles will have escaped his attention-and a thorough understanding of the political systems of both Western and Eastern Europe. This is a rare combination indeed. Moreover, he writes in a clear and transparent style, and sine ira et studio. Obviously, here is a political scientist who honours and loves his trade!
2020
The first half of the year 2018 brought about a new player on the Romanian political scene, Mi?carea România Împreun? (the Romania Together Movement), initiated by the former technocratic prime-minister Dacian Ciolo?. Built on the foundations of the civic initiative Romania 100, the new political formation proclaims itself to be a moderate party, pro-European, and center-left. In this paper we aim to demonstrate that, despite this self-identification, MRI illustrated a particular political model, initiated in France by the current president, Emmanuel Macron, La Re?publique En Marche. Unlike other authors, who speak about “anti-populist populism” in order to define this particular political formula, we consider that, on the contrary, it should not be considered as a special category in the taxonomies regarding the populist phenomenon, but as a formula by which the demo-liberal political order understands to adapt itself to the challenge of the populist phenomenon. Consequentially, th...
Re-thinking Populism within the Borders of Democracy
Italian Sociological Review, 2018
Although populism has many references and various definitions as an elusive and ambiguous concept, this article approaches it as a political strategy which has the potential to destabilize democracy in some ways. This approach enables a broader comprehension of populism rather than confining it to certain ideological tenets or a few undisputed populist movements. This study attempts to reveal the logic of this political strategy through a tripartite analysis which consists of the sense of democracy inherent in populism, its way of thinking and reasoning, and the political circumstances which enable and strengthen populism. It is argued that the analysis performed here can offer an outline of the ground on which the struggle against the features of populism, that threatens democracy, can be carried out. Finally, in the light of the aforementioned analysis and some ideas which are borrowed from the works of Habermas and Mouffe to a large extent, it is aimed to re-read democracy in order to deal with the populist challenge in liberal democracies.
Constellations, 1998
Populism is one of those phenomena that serve to highlight significant political differences between Europe and America. The term 'populism' was coined in America at the end of the last century to designate both a political language and a form of political participation particular to and consistent with the democratic process. The extension of this meaning to European societies without any specification can be misleading, however. In the first part of this paper I will try to explain why.