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Cited by 185Populism, Right-Wing MovementsPolitical Theory and DemocracyPolitical Philosophy and Ethics

Populism and Democratic Theory

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Mansbridge, Jane, Macedo, Stephen·2019·Annual Review of Law and Social Science
DOI 10.1146/annurev-lawsocsci-101518-042843
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Abstract

Commentators routinely describe “populism” as vague. Some argue that the early US populists, who coined the modern usage, were not populists. We disagree and identify this common conceptual core: the “people” in a moral battle against “elites.” The core definition fits all cases of populism: those on the left and right, those in the United States, Europe, and elsewhere. In addition to this minimal common core, we identify strongly suggested and frequently correlated non-core characteristics. These include the people's homogeneity and exclusivity, direct rule, and nationalism, as well as a single leader, vilification of vulnerable out-groups, and impatience with deliberation. The US Populist Party and Spain's Podemos Party fit the core definition but have few of the other characteristics. The core can be good for democracy, we argue, while the associated characteristics are often dangerous. Populism in opposition can be good for democracy, while populism in power carries great risks.

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  • Different ideological underpinnings of populists will most likely coin differential populist responses or attitudes to their public administration systems.

    “It follows that different ideological underpinnings of populistsstemming from non-core features according to Mansbridge and Macedo (2019)-will most likely coin differential populist”

    From Public Administration Under Populist Rule: Standing Up Against Democratic Backsliding (2024) · cites this paper as Mansbridge & Macedo, 2019

  • Populist governments under charismatic one-person leadership can become dangerous for democracy when the connection between leader and people remains unmediated for a longer time, bypassing mediating institutions including the bureaucracy.

    “It is argued that populist governments -in particular under what is called the charismatic, one person leadership -can become dangerous for democracy when the connection between leader and people remains unmediated for a longer time, thus bypassing and surpassing mediating institutions to which one can also count, implicitly at least, the bureaucracy (Mansbridge & Macedo, 2019;Urbinati, 2019).”

    From Public Administration Under Populist Rule: Standing Up Against Democratic Backsliding (2024) · cites this paper as Mansbridge & Macedo, 2019

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Authors
Mansbridge, J., & Macedo, S.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Princeton University (US)
ORCID
Venue
Annual Review of Law and Social Science
Publisher
Annual Reviews
Published
2019-10-13
Volume
15
Issue
1
Pages
59-77
ISSN
  • 1550-3585 (ISSN-L)
  • 1550-3631
DOI
10.1146/annurev-lawsocsci-101518-042843
OpenAlex
W2980269812
Cited by
185
References
76
Citations by year
2026: 46 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 45 · 2023: 30 · 2022: 29 · 2021: 6 · 2020: 5 · 2019: 1
FWCI
10.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by-sa
Locations
Annual Review of Law and Social Science (publishedVersion, cc-by-sa)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Populism, Right-Wing Movements
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Political Theory and Democracy
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Political Philosophy and Ethics
Keywords
populism, democratic theory, definition of populism, Podemos, nationalism, deliberation, political homogeneity

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