Is democracy in peril? re-conceptualizing populism, re­evaluating its impact

Abstract

This study aims ta evaluate claims of a populist political surge that dominate the political science literature on the rise of populism in Europe. It identifıes the three necessary components of populism that bring electoral success to European political parties. Using indicators that measure ''thin" and "host" components of populism, such as anti-elitism, anti-pluralism, people-centrism, immigration, and others, I employ a descriptive analysis and O LS regression ta test the generalizability and externally validity of populism. My ­pooled time series and cross-section data on vote shares of political parties and components of populism in European countries over 1960-2021 does not fınd support for the conventional wisdom in the literature by showing no statistically signifıcant relationship between vote shares of political parties and populism. I conclude that the conventional literature needs a re-conceptualization of populism ta assess better the concept and its potential threat ta liberal democracies.