Technology
Populism and its rise in 21st-century democracies
Quick fact
A striking feature of contemporary populism is that while the specific grievances vary by nation, the core framing is remarkably similar: a pure, homogeneous people verses a selfish, untrustworthy elite. This has led to the election of populist leaders on several continents in the last two decades.
Why this is interesting
You’ve seen the term ‘populist’ thrown around, but why do so many citizens suddenly feel that the system is rigged against them?
Read the full explanation
Understanding Populism and its rise in 21st-century democracies
Populism, at its heart, is not a coherent ideology but a political logic that reduces politics to a moral struggle between the ‘people’ and the ‘elite.’ It claims that only the populist leader truly represents the people’s will. This simplification resonates because it offers a clear explanation for complex problems like globalization, migration, or economic insecurity. In 21st-century democracies, such a message spreads quickly through direct channels like social media, bypassing traditional gatekeepers, and thrives when citizens feel that mainstream parties have failed to address their economic or cultural anxieties. The result is often a challenge to established institutions like courts, the press, and even election integrity.
A deeper explanation
The mechanism behind populism’s rise is a perceived gap between democratic promises and lived realities. When economic growth benefits only the top few, or when rapid social changes disrupt established identities, citizens may feel abandoned by the political class. Populist leaders exploit this by presenting themselves as the sole voice of the ‘people’ against a detached elite. In doing so, they often employ a charismatic style, simplify complex issues into slogans, and delegitimize any opposition. Crucially, populism tends to be corrosive to liberal democracy because it rejects the messy pluralism of competing interests and thinks of politics as a unified national will, rather than a system of checks and balances. This mechanism explains why populism, while claiming to empower ‘the people,’ often leads to democratic backsliding, where electoral institutions remain but their meaning is eroded.