Populisme: vers une mutation de la démocratie?

Populism: towards a transformation of democracy?

Abstract

The word “populism” is extensively used nowadays. The objective of this article is to clarify the concept of “neo-populism”, by articulating it to the multiple transformations of the globalized world, creating in Europe new challenges, as well as potential “winners”… but also “losers”! In our view, these transformations do not create new socio-political cleavages in Europe, but reactivate the existing ones in a new manner through various forms of “neo-nationalism”. This explains why neopopulism is so protean. By insisting on giving the voice to “the people” in an era of globalization, neo-populism appears to be both a quest for regenerated democracy, and also a threat for liberal democracies because of some anti-pluralistic tendencies.