Category: populism

Solidarity founder Walesa fears for Poland – and Europe’s ‘flawed’ democracies

     

Almost four decades have passed since Lech Walesa faced down the communist regime at the Gdansk shipyard, and he says his fears of a backlash are now a reality in the… Read more »

Democracy’s defense mechanisms eroding. Populism here to stay?

     

In the age of migration the important characteristic of many of Europe’s populist parties is not that they are national-conservative but that they are reactionary, notes Ivan Krastev, chairman of… Read more »

South Africa’s Zuma ‘leading ANC onto a path of implosion’

     

Disputed resolutions, deferred decisions and policy uncertainty were the prime bequests of the policy conference of the African National Congress to the troubled organization, notes analyst Susan Booysen: To the question: is… Read more »

‘Illiberal’ Poland rejects Putin-style autocracy

     

Polish citizens continue to support Western alliances and to reject authoritarian models of government, but express concerns about the effects of polarization on Poland’s democracy, according to a new poll… Read more »

Populism less contagious – ‘more like accidents of circumstance’?

     

Recent symptoms of a dangerous and contagious new populism within leading transatlantic democracies “now both look more like horrible accidents of circumstance – ballot-box mutations that earn pity for the… Read more »

Sliding into civil war? Venezuela’s ‘drama threatens to turn from farce to tragedy’

     

  Venezuela’s government hunted on Wednesday for rogue policemen who attacked key installations by helicopter, but critics of President Nicolas Maduro suspected the raid may have been staged to justify… Read more »

How modern authoritarians are breaking down democracy

     

  Modern authoritarianism has succeeded, where previous totalitarian systems failed, due to new strategies of repression, the exploitation of open societies, and the spread of illiberal policies in democratic countries… Read more »

How populism helped wreck Venezuela

     

What’s the problem with populism? After all, you could argue that populism is simply the promotion of popular ideas with which elites disagree, notes analyst Uri Friedman. You could think of it as a… Read more »

End of an illiberal populist era in Bolivia?

     

The illiberal populist regime of Bolivia President Evo Morales regime has sought to suppress voices of dissent within the media and civil society. One of the targeted journalists, Raul Peñaranda,… Read more »