Populists and Polarized Democracies – III on May 5, 2024The long-term adverse effects of a polarized nation extend beyond immediate social unrest to the erosion of the fabric of democracy itself. Polarization undermines the possibility of constructive dialogue, marginalizes moderate voices, and makes bipartisan or cross-party cooperation increasingly difficult. This attrition of democratic norms can lead to an entrenchment of authoritarian tendencies, as leaders […]
Populists and Polarized Democracies – II on May 3, 2024Another major theme of the populists’ strategy is to deliberately invoke hate and social schism as tools to consolidate power. By framing political discourse in terms of ‘us versus them’, populists worsen existing societal fault lines. They can leverage cultural, religious, and ideological divisions. This creates a cohesive in-group identity among their supporters. This tactic […]
Populists and Polarized Democracies – I on May 1, 2024Change is in the air. Or is it? On one hand, March 2024 shows Turkiye’s latest elections with the opposition party Republic People’s Party (CHP) achieving a resounding victory over Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development (AK) Party. On the other hand, incumbent Vladimir Putin secures another six years as Russian President. Earlier in February, Pakistan […]