Dossier - February 2018

Just like with nationalism, there is right wing and left wing populism. The phenomenon has, however, two distinct characteristics: its anti-elite and anti-pluralism dimensions, i.e. it's refusal of a democratic state in the name of the "real people"-defined through an ethno-cultural prism for right wing populists and through a social prism for left wing populists. There has been one significant evolution these last fifteen years: some countries are governed by real populist regimes who thrive for the return of a strong state (Hungary, Poland, Russia, Turkey, the Philippines, Venezuela). In other countries, yet the regime is not populist, its leaders have populist ambitions (Donald Trump, Narendra Modi) or its government allies with populist groups (Austria, Denmark). There is an implicit international alliance of populist parties and groups throughout the world, who oppose the liberal and cosmopolitan order, share ideas (a complex-free reaffirmation of sovereignty, defence of a strong national identity...) and push for a disruptive foreign policy..