The political climate in the world seems to have taken a definitive turn of events before the rising tide of populism over the past couple of years. The leaders espousing populist ideologies appear to gain traction with speed amongst voters first in Europe, across the Americas, and even parts of Asia.

This phenomenon raises debates on what it augurs for democracy, political stability, and societal cohesion. This article analyzes some causes this phenomenon has taken, manifestations in various regions, and what it possibly implies for democratic governance.

Understanding Populism

Essentially, populism is a political philosophy that represents ordinary people's concerns against some perceived elite. Populist leaders often construct themselves as champions of the common man versus the "establishment" through their rhetoric. Such construction reduces complex political issues to more simplified and dichotomous terms, which thereby enables mobilizing leaders more easily. Despite its many forms throughout the political spectrum, populism often relies on appeals to nationalist sentiment, economic dissatisfaction, and cultural fears.

It is in times of crisis, however, that we find the appeal of populism the most strong. Economic decline, a growing gap between rich and poor, and social unrest may usher in feelings of hopelessness regarding traditional parties and institutions. Then, populist leaders seize upon the discontent of people by promising change and simple solutions to complex problems. Because of this, they are capable of drawing large followings even within well-established democracies.

The Global Landscape of Populism

It is now a global phenomenon and thus restricted to no particular region. In Europe, politicians like Matteo Salvini of Italy and France's Marine Le Pen have managed to amass big followings based on anti-immigrant rhetoric in their challenges against the authority of the European Union.
The Hungarian politician Viktor Orb�n leads a government chipping away at democratic values but calls his decisions necessary to defend his nation's sovereignty against forces from outside.

The rise of Donald Trump to power in the United States marked an important populist turn for the Americas. His administration's "America First" mantra spoke volumes to so many voters on the losing end of globalization.
In Latin America, the emerging trend of populist leadership has also used populist means as a means to rally support using divisive rhetoric to mobilize their base, most recently the election of Brazil's Jair Bolsonaro.

It is also indicative of a general rise in populism across Asia, with leaders like India's Narendra Modi and Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines who use populist rhetoric as a means to consolidate power.
What they very often do is posture themselves as outsiders who have to confront entrenched political elites while simultaneously implementing policies that undermine democratic institutions.

Populism and Democracy

Populism raises some fascinating questions about democracy's future. While populism perhaps revitalizes civic political engagement by bringing attention to otherwise ignored issues, it can simultaneously threaten democratic norms and institutions.

Erosion of Democratic Institutions

But arguably most disconcerting in populism is how the former so easily tramples democratic institutions.
The populist leadership often characterizes the judiciary and the media, among other checks and balances, as an obstacle in the way of standing in the path of their version of the "will of the people." This storyline could well lead to weakened institutions at best and, at worst, eroded accountability with more authoritarianism.

The government of Hungary, for instance, has systematically dismantled the independent media and curtailed judicial independence-all in the name of necessity, to protect the nation against threats from abroad.
The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdo?an, employs populist rhetoric while consolidating power by silencing any dissent and undermining democratic processes.

Polarization and Division

In general, populism breeds polarization, placing some sort of "us" versus "them." A rhetoric of that kind carries within it the very real risk of increased social fragmentation due to increasingly divided communities across political, ethnic, and cultural lines. The associated hostility makes it very difficult to conduct constructive dialogue and compromise, which themselves inhibit the solving of very important problems by society.

The consequences of such polarization stand in full relief currently in the United States, where political discourse has reached increasingly toxic levels. Certainly, during the 2016 presidential election, the divisions within the country became far deeper, with populist rhetoric adding to the toxic environment of hostility and distrust. Frankly, outright extremist movements and the erosion of civil discourse have been direct byproducts of this populist moment.

Populism and Policy Making

Populist leaders offer radical alternative ways for addressing perceived grievances. Usually, their promises are arguable in terms of feasibility. More often than not, populism ends up with a rush to make policy, sacrificing long-term stability for a short-run political gain. For example, a populist government may press protectionist trade policies that, eventually, run contrary to economic growth.

Additionally, the rallying of populist policies diverts attention away from key fields such as climate change, public health, and education reform. The obsession with short-term policy and appeals to emotions often makes populist leaders blind to more multi-layered and long-term approaches that these policy arenas require.

This is the trend of populism-a global challenge that at the same time opens opportunities for democracies around the world. This may serve as a wake-up call for political elites in the sense that responsiveness to the concerns of citizens is needed, or else; at the same time, it is fraught with considerable risks to democratic norms and democratic institutions.