The Populist Zeitgeist

2004/01/01 by Cas Mudde · 251 citations
Social Sciences · #Populism, Right-Wing Movements #German legal, social, and political studies #Economic and Social Issues

paper · pdf · doi:10.1111/j.1477-7053.2004.00135.x

Abstract

Abstract Since the 1980s the rise of so-called ‘populist parties’ has given rise to thousands of books, articles, columns and editorials. This article aims to make a threefold contribution to the current debate on populism in liberal democracies. First, a clear and new definition of populism is presented. Second, the normal-pathology thesis is rejected; instead it is argued that today populist discourse has become mainstream in the politics of western democracies. Indeed, one can even speak of a populist Zeitgeist. Third, it is argued that the explanations of and reactions to the current populist Zeitgeist are seriously flawed and might actually strengthen rather than weaken it.

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