It is leaders who, claiming to represent the “genuine will” of the people against a corrupted elite, have made populism characteristic of contemporary politics. It has been a phenomenon gaining in strength on several continents, able to change political landscapes, and undermine traditional power structures.
More often than not, populism flows from general dissatisfaction with the existing political systems. Many cases show that it was fired by economic disparities, social grievances, and political corruption that are very rampant. For example, Donald Trump’s rise in the United States was largely based on people’s frustration with what they perceived to be the failures of established politicians and institutions. In Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro wooed the public against widespread crime and corruption and placed a hardline solution before the people for governance.
The polarization of rhetoric is one of the central characteristics of populism. Many a time, populist leaders define political issues in binary terms, portraying themselves as champions of people against a corrupt elite. While this approach may at one level help bind supporters together and point out overlooked issues, it also runs the risk of entrenching these ruptures in society and weakening democratic norms.
Populist parties challenge classic party systems. Indeed, many populist movements are born outside established political parties; they cause a rupture in traditional party relations and move toward new political alignments. This leads to increased political instability, as evinced by countries such as Italy, where populist parties have dramatically changed the political environment.
The impact of populism does not stop at the national level. Populist leaders take nationalist and protectionist policies that challenge global cooperation and multilateral agreements. For example, Trump’s “America First” policy resulted in reviewing international trade agreements and straining relationships with allies. Another significant result for European and global politics has been Brexit, driven by populist sentiments in the UK.
Populism, though able to underline very real grievances and point out very pertinent issues, has been a risk both to democratic institutions and to social cohesion. For democracies, it is the dual challenge of having to deal with the drivers of this feeling—such as economic inequality and political corruption—with respect for democratic values and the development of inclusive political discourse.
The rising force of populism lastingly represents profound flaws in the political system today. Only by detailed investigation into the social, economic, and political factors that give impetus to populist movements and a commitment to finding solutions to the basic complaints giving fuel to these movements can this impact be understood.
