The Dangers of Populism - Interview with Jan-Werner Müller

Professor of Politics at Princeton University and leading expert on populism, Jan-Werner recently gave a lecture at the Council of Europe entitled "How Populism endangers Democracy – and how to fight it".

One of the world's leading experts on populism, Professor Müller defines populists as a kind of "moral majority" who regard anyone who disagrees with them as either illegitimate or disloyal to the "will of the people". According to Professor Müller, this approach represents a real danger to democracy, because it could lead to the tyranny of the majority over the minority.

Speaking about the European Union, he advocates the upholding of basic democratic standards in all of its member states, including Poland and Hungary, even if this requires the imposition of sanctions.

Further afield, he urges democrats to call out contradictions and expose misleading propaganda espoused by the populists, and to put pressure on supporters of populism within mainstream parties, who either adopt populist policies themselves, or who allow populists to gain power.

[samakaeva]

This professor has such a soothing voice

[lukeb]

Jan-Werner's answer is we will go to our own well respected experts and we will dictate to you what is democracy or not.

[terrytytula]

What seems to be totally overlooked is the reason for the rise in populism. It has to do with the obscene imbalance in wealth and power, where a handful of people own everything. The fathers of american democracy were aware that this imbalance could occur, as a way to correct the situation the created the 2nd amendment, A way for the people to rise up and "trim the tree of democracy".

[Nate-wfhk]

Some amount of populism can be good but it shouldn’t take over policy based discussions, if everybody in politics is just an actor then it turn into a play

[i.j.f.]

So speaking out against the EU is “dangerous” lol give me a break😂

[watcher]

They always need a cause to manufacture consent and opinion gain.targeting a scapegoat cause as a means of c9hesion

[TwistyTrav]

I don't get why Populism gets so much hate... How is it NOT the purest form of democracy? Sure, it constantly follows the majority opinion to get votes. In the political world, that might seem like cheating or having no backbone. But in reality, it means more people are being better represented by their government, even as socio-political opinions shift dynamically. Listening to the polls from citizens views on every issue is not a bad thing. A healthy democracy doesn't absolutely need to be partisan all the time. Division is a path to authoritarianism. When the majority finally agrees on something, its fuel for progress.

To my understanding, the scary part of Populism for most people is because it allows political goals to be free-floating in whichever direction the majority of people wishes it to go. They are labelled neither Conservative, nor Liberal... so what are they? What ideals to they stand behind? Newsflash - it doesn't automatically make a politician dishonest to change their policies to align with what the majority of people want. Why should a politician be limited to that of a pre-defined identity anyway?

Politicians themselves are only in power because they are meant to be representatives of the majority, are they not? A leader isn't meant to personify a singular political opinion above all else. And let's face it, society is filled with many colorful opinions which don't always fit exactly within the lines of left or right politics.

[sydneywaffles]

Populism a political party seeking to represent the interests of ordinary people. A person who supports or seeks to appeal to the interests of ordinary people. English dictionary puts it this way representing or appealing to the interest and opinions of ordinary people. What democracies refer to as democracy a form of government in which the people have a voice. A state governed in such a way that it is controlled by the majority. Is that not what everybody wants democracy. why has populism/democracy become a crime within the ( unelected ) non-unified European Union.

[doyoumind]

There's this opinion poll and it finds there are far few Muslims in the US than people think. Popular opinion says 17% of the population are Muslim. In reality the number is more like 1%. Criticise the statistic and miss the point. I'm using it as an example of how Populism works. The Populist sticks with 17% because thats a chunk of votes. Never contradict popular perception.

[sushrutabatsya]

The utter audacity in defining, "populism" without a single mention of "progressivism" is what created "populism" in the first place.

[TeacherFlash]

Exactly these types of people, gentle and kind are the reason why Europe can never as be great as America. We need to stop being kind and implement strong federal laws the way they did in America CENTURIES AGO. We need a constitution with first amendment and second amendment so we can all be free.

[lilylin]

You are talking about the concept of the "Extreme Right" instead of the central-right or the conservatives with common sense, which make up the majority of those who oppose Islamic migration. You make the "conservatives" sound like the "Extreme Right" and that is not only misleading; it is also sneaky! No one says that Europe or America should not accept vetted, constructive immigrants; they simply said that they should not be forced to accept unvetted migrants who have incompatible culture background and hostile attitude towards the local population and whose sole intention is to take advantage of the local welfare system and eventually, take over the whole country! Keeping these people out of their countriest is just common sense --- which people like you don't seem to have!