Populism in Europe: An Illiberal Democratic Response to Undemocratic Liberalism (The Government and Opposition/Leonard Schapiro Lecture 2019)

In this lecture, I lay out my approach to populism, which falls within the now dominant ‘ideational approach’ of populism, discuss the complex relationship between populism and politics, and identify some of the main causes of the ongoing ‘populist Zeitgeist’. My main arguments are: (1) while populi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Government and opposition (London) 2021-10, Vol.56 (4), p.577-597
Main Author: Mudde, Cas
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Crises
Democracy
Ideology
Liberal democracy
Liberalism
Majority rule
Minority & ethnic groups
Monism
Political parties
Populism
Sovereignty
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Summary:In this lecture, I lay out my approach to populism, which falls within the now dominant ‘ideational approach’ of populism, discuss the complex relationship between populism and politics, and identify some of the main causes of the ongoing ‘populist Zeitgeist’. My main arguments are: (1) while populism is related to (real and perceived) ‘crises’, these so-called ‘crises’ are often catalysts rather than prime causes of the rise of populism; (2) populism is essentially an illiberal democratic response to undemocratic liberalism; and (3) populism can only be overcome by more rather than less liberal democracy. I illustrate my arguments on the basis of the recent rise of populism in Europe, but believe they also largely hold true beyond that specific regional and temporal context.
ISSN:0017-257X
1477-7053
DOI:10.1017/gov.2021.15