Introduction
In an era that celebrates diversity, a paradoxical longing for moral unity is resurfacing. In his work "What is Populism?", Jan-Werner Müller defines this phenomenon not as a political style, but as a fundamental claim to the exclusive representation of the "real people." Populism divides the world into the pure nation and the corrupt elites, rejecting pluralism as a falsehood. In this article, you will learn how this mechanism erodes the foundations of the rule of law and why "illiberal democracy" is a dangerous illusion.
Müller: The Moral Claim and the Myth of the "Real People"
Populism is rooted in anti-pluralism. A populist does not merely claim to have won an election, but that they are the people. This conviction is not subject to verification—it is based on a moral imagination that divides society into the forces of good and parasitic elites. Anyone who does not fit this vision is deemed a "foreign body" and excluded from the community.
The concept of the "real people" is an ideological myth. It is not a collection of citizens, but a precisely engineered construct used to excise diversity. For the populist, pluralism is not a natural state of society, but a symptom of a disease that must be removed in the name of an illusory authenticity.
State Colonization and Discriminatory Legalism
After gaining power, populists proceed to the methodical colonization of institutions. Under the banner of "reclaiming the state," they pack courts, media, and the administration with loyal partisans. The state apparatus is hijacked, and the independence of oversight bodies is systematically dismantled.
In such a system, discriminatory legalism takes hold: the law becomes a weapon against opponents and a reward for "one's own." Clientelist networks emerge, where corruption ceases to be a pathology and becomes proof of effectiveness. The tool for cementing this hegemony is populist constitutionalism—the creation of basic laws that, instead of protecting the rights of all, embed a single ideological project into the structure of the state.
The Crisis of Representation and the Defense of Pluralism
The success of populism is the result of a crisis of representation. When party systems ossify and citizens feel abandoned by globalization, a breeding ground for radical claims is created. However, Müller warns that "illiberal democracy" is an oxymoron. Democracy without the protection of minorities and individual rights becomes nothing more than a "theater of the majority."
An effective defense against populism requires protecting the idea of pluralism. One must not adopt the language of populists or their exclusionary narrative. Trust in the state must be rebuilt by solving real problems rather than merely providing symbolic packaging. Democracy is not a plebiscite on virtue, but the constant negotiation of differences and the right to persistent disagreement.
Summary
Populism is not a passing anomaly, but a permanent shadow of representative democracy. It collapses only when society regains its diverse voice and institutions return to serving all citizens, rather than just a select group. The true struggle for democracy is a struggle for a space where no one holds a monopoly on the truth.
We must act together. Because populism will not retreat on its own. It must be pushed out—first from our minds, then from our institutions.
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