Any politician can show some level of populism. As Laclau argues, populism is part of politics itself because every politician wants to appeal to as many people as possible, understand their problems, and offer solutions. However, while all politicians may use elements of populism, not all are true populists. Real populists deeply believe in their ideas, while others use populist rhetoric only to gain votes. The main difference is that populists reject pluralism — they believe only they represent “the people” and see others as illegitimate.
Populism is not a new concept. It has appeared many times in history as a reaction against change and is often characterized by anti-elitism, anti-establishment attitudes, and mistrust of intellectuals. Populist movements usually follow strong, charismatic leaders, and when they reach power, they often move toward authoritarianism. The outcome depends on how strong a country’s democratic institutions are. Populism also adapts to different contexts — it can appear as nationalist, agrarian, or even left- or right-wing — but always presents itself as a fight against corrupt elites.
Historically, populism appeared in various forms: in 19th-century America with the Populist Party, in Russia with the Narodniki, in Europe through fascism, and in Latin America with leaders like Perón in Argentina. Modern populism began to grow in the 1960s and became firmly established in the 1990s. Today, populism is widespread in both developed and developing countries. In Europe, populist parties have gone from small movements to major political players, now receiving around 25% of the vote on average. Leaders like Donald Trump, Marine Le Pen, Viktor Orbán, and Jair Bolsonaro are examples of modern populists.
Populism today challenges established liberal norms, political correctness, and globalization. It has transformed from a fringe movement into a serious political alternative. The rise of populism is changing democratic politics, forcing traditional parties to adopt more populist elements in their programs. This shows how populism has become central to modern political competition.
The meaning of populism varies depending on context. In Latin America, it is linked with economic populism and clientelism; in Europe, with nationalism and anti-immigration; and in the U.S., with both left- and right-wing protest movements. As a result, populism has become one of the most debated and misunderstood terms in politics. It is both a strategy — used to attract voters — and an ideology — a worldview built around the idea of “the people” versus “the elite.”
While leaders like Clinton or George W. Bush may use populist language, they are not ideological populists like Trump, Le Pen, or Chávez. Populism also affects mainstream politicians who must adapt to its growing influence. Studies show that as populism rises, traditional parties shift toward more extreme positions to compete. In today’s world, the main political divide is no longer between left and right but between populism and anti-populism — making it one of the defining features of modern democracy.