Populism, is it Democracy’s Bastard or Twin? The Case of the European Union

What do we mean when we say populism? Is populism a threat for democracy or a contribution to improve a system whose performance falls below our expectations? This essay seeks to find an answer to these questions. Keeping the available literature in mind, it shall reflect on populism myths before presenting a new concept of populism. A concept based on fight for hegemony. The essay argues that, on one hand, there is no democracy without populism, and on the other hand, populism can represent both a threat and a chance for democracy. Moreover, it shall analyze the reality of populism and democracy in the European Union by cross-checking the data of the Authoritarian Populism Index and the Democracy Index, without forgetting the last reports on the citizens’ satisfaction degree with the functioning of democracy and per capita income. This is a relevant theme at a time when the populist parties have popped up in some democracies, share, or occupy the power in some EU countries, and in one case both the ruling party and the one leading the opposition are of populist nature. A populist democracy. © 2017, Fudan University and Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd.