A Balance Sheet of the Vices and Virtues of ‘Populisms’

by Philippe C. Schmitter,

Politicians and political scientists invariably use the term ‘populism’ to designate persons or movements they do not like or would not like to have come to power. To be called a ‘populist’ is to be insulted and, if possible, excluded from ‘respectable’  liberal democratic practice. This short essay tries to define populism in a ‘neutral’ fashion and to explore its virtues, as well as its (much better known) vices. It also attempts to draw up a balance sheet between the contrasting contributions of populism to contemporary political life in Europe.

published in Vol 7 - No 2 - 2007 // Populism(s)
ABSTRACT

    Populism(s)

    In the ‘new’ Europe, the major overhaul caused by the transition from command to market economy compares well to the early 20th century contexts when populism developed. Both instances cannot but favor populism as a frame of mind that follows abrupt societal transformation, defined by fear of and resistance to change, nostalgia for a golden... »
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    The Heavy Burden of History: The Political Uses of the Past in the Yugoslav Successor States

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    A Balance Sheet of the Vices and Virtues of ‘Populisms’

    Politicians and political scientists invariably use the term ‘populism’ to designate persons or movements they do not like or would not like to have come to power. To be called a ‘populist’ is to be insulted and, if possible, excluded from ‘respectable’  liberal democratic practice. This short essay tries to define populism in a ‘neutral’... »

    Party-Based Euro-Skepticism in Germany

    For some authors, Euro-skepticism represents one of the great recipes for success of the new anti-establishment parties in European Union opposing Europeanization and globalization and occupying some policy fields along the globalism-nationalism cleavage (Frölich-Steffen/Rensmann 2007:124). This article describes how and to which extent Euro-skepticism plays a role in the German party system. The article considers... »
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  • Alina Mungiu-Pippidi (chair) Hertie School of Governance
  • Larry Diamond Stanford University
  • Tom Gallagher University of Bradford
  • Alena Ledeneva University College London
  • Michael McFaul Stanford University
  • Dennis Deletant Georgetown University
  • Helen Wallace London School of Economics and Political Science

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  • Claudiu Tufiș
  • Bogdan Iancu
  • George Jiglau
  • Ingi Iusmen
  • Gabriel Bădescu
  • Andrei Macsut
  • Laura Voinea

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Societatea Academica Romana