Populism and Democracy

Giorgi Gogsadze

Abstract


The article discusses the relationship between populism and democracy, the influence of populist actors on liberal-democratic institutions and constitutions. Due to the vagueness of the concept of populism, different approaches are presented on how this phenomenon is studied. Populism is understood as a thinly-defined ideology.

Populists claim to represent the “genuine and oridinary people” and therefore view their opponents as enemies and corrupt. They Increase their own power by amending and revoking the principles of liberal constitutionalism and mechanisms of checks and balances, which, in their opinion, limits popular sovereignty.

Populism can increase civil society participation and turnout in elections by involvement of previously marginalized groups in electoral processes. However, particular cases of populist rule in Hungary, the Philippines, and other countries has been marked by a decline in liberal-democratic indicators such as fundamental rights and control of the government. This indicates that populism mainly has a negative effect on liberal-democratic institutions and democracy.


Keywords


Populism, democracy, constitutionalism.

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References


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