Populism (Latin populus „people“) is, according to Duden, „a popular, often demagogic policy characterized by opportunism, which aims to win the favor of the masses (with a view to elections) by dramatizing the political situation“ (Duden 2015, 1367). Appeals are made to the people, which is reflected in the word itself (cf. Decker, 37). The term populism contains the suffix -mus, whereby an exaggeration per se is intended and is directed against the components of a democratic constitutional state (cf. Wielenga/ Hartleb 2011, 11).
Characteristics of populism
Populism derives from the will of the people and thus legitimizes its authority. It claims a truth for itself that is undemocratic as well as unscientific and cannot be substantiated by facts. As long as this truth is accepted by the individual, it is considered absolute (cf. Stegemann 2017, 64).
Characteristics of populism are listed below:
Literature
Decker, Frank (2011): Democratic populism and or populist democracy? Remarks on a difficult relationship. In: Wielenga, F./ Hartleb, F. (eds.): Populism in modern democracy. The Netherlands and Germany in comparison. Münster: Waxmann, 39-54.
Duden editorial office (2015): Duden – German Universal Dictionary. The comprehensive dictionary of meanings of the contemporary German language. 8th ed. Berlin: Bibliographisches Institut.
Lucardie, Paul (2011): Populism: conceptual-historical and theoretical remarks. In: Wielenga, F./ Hartleb, F. (eds.): Populism in modern democracy. The Netherlands and Germany in comparison. Münster/ New York: Waxmann, 17-38.
Stegemann, Bernd (2017): The specter of populism. An essay on political dramaturgy. Berlin: Theater der Zeit.
Wielenga, Friso/ Hartleb, Florian (2011): Introduction. In: Wielenga, F./ Hartleb, F. (eds.): Populism in modern democracy. The Netherlands and Germany in comparison. Münster/ New York: Waxmann, 7-16.