TRUE World leaders earned admiration for their true commitment to societal transformation.
Today, increased global population and rising expectations have overwhelmed governments’ capacity to satisfy citizen demands.
This became an opportunity for self-proclaimed public representatives to exploit people’s vulnerability and garner public favour.
This led to the rise of populism.
Populism poses a powerful threat to the future of democratic systems in the 21st century.
From being a means of expressing popular discontent, it has evolved into a curse that corrupts democratic institutions.
Modern populism often masks dictatorial aims as popular support, thus undermining democracy and enabling authoritarian rule.
Worldwide, the core principles of democracy are under attack from populist leaders and movements that favour personal or party goals above constitutional law, impacting both developed and developing nations.
Fundamentally, populism is a political strategy that purports to represent the interests of the common people in opposition to a detached elite.
However, modern populism frequently descends into authoritarianism, as leaders exploit popular opinion to undermine checks and balances.
Furthermore, authoritarian populists consolidate power within a select few, suppressing dissent and undermining democratic processes.
Although populism typically emerges from democratic processes, it can easily devolve into authoritarian rule, particularly when populist leaders circumvent established norms in the name of popular sovereignty.
Populist movements have ominously paved the way for autocratic rule, as history shows.
The rise of Adolf Hitler in the 1930s shows how populist appeals, alongside economic woes and intense nationalism, facilitated the downfall of German democracy and the rise of a dictatorial regime.
Populist uprisings commonly result from intolerable levels of socioeconomic hardship.
Populist leaders exploit the void created by rising inequality, poor governance, unemployment and lack of justice, offering simplistic solutions to multifaceted problems.
Growing discontent is feeding populist movements that pledge change, yet frequently weaken democracy.
Parliaments often become mere rubber stamps under populist governments, losing their role as vibrant forums for national discussion.
A free and independent judiciary is essential for a democracy.
Populist regimes, however, frequently meddle in judicial selections, launch politically charged prosecutions and undermine judges to circumvent judicial obstacles to authoritarianism.
This not only erodes the rule of law but also empowers leaders to act against democratic norms.
Populist governments frequently manipulate elections to project an image of legitimacy.
They distort public opinion by manipulating electoral laws, intimidating opponents and monopolizing media.
This process slowly undermines the democratic nature of elections, making them instruments for authoritarian regimes to appear legitimate.
Populist systems typically consolidate power in the executive, weakening local governments.
This saps strength from local governance, pushing communities away from political processes.
Moreover, populist leaders often assail media outlets, denounce dissenters as “enemies of the people,” and saturate the public with propaganda.
Such actions foster echo chambers, thus hindering critical thinking and fostering blind loyalty.
Populist regimes commonly feature the silencing of dissent, the punishment of opponents by the state and leaders who remain in power indefinitely.
The pattern of unchecked populism resulting in dictatorial rule is evident throughout history, from Mussolini’s Italy to Chávez’s Venezuela.
Populism’s dark side also includes widespread human rights abuses, which seriously endanger democracy.
Populist governments support actions such as torture, illegal imprisonment, discrimination and the denial of freedoms violating moral and legal standards and damaging the foundation of democracies.
Populism downplays accountability.
Little accountability creates an environment ripe for human rights abuses.
Systemic abuse arises when systems intended to check power are subverted or controlled by populist movements.
Populist movements often lead to the suppression of social groups.
Such a rise of populism poses a risk to democracy.
The systemic denial of these rights fosters a climate of fear and exclusion.
Therefore, minority groups, journalists and activists are targeted, suppressing dissenting opinions.
The stifling of pluralism erodes democratic values and habituates repression.
The Modi government, with the RSS’s backing, in India serves as a relevant example here.
The most significant repercussion of unchecked populism is the violation of citizens’ right to self-governance.
When freedoms are curtailed and dissent is silenced, democracy is just a facade.
Because people are distanced from the decision-making processes affecting their lives, they become objects rather than participants.
The threat of populism is real and intensifying.
Although populism starts with democratic pledges, its unrestrained growth weakens organizations and frequently results in authoritarianism.
Simultaneously, the moral backbone of democracy is broken and its legitimacy is lost due to systemic rights violations.
Combating populism demands persistent resistance.
With modern populist leaders employing propaganda and manipulation, it’s critical to heighten public awareness of the rising threat of populism.
Honesty and selfless leadership are required for this, though.
Societies whose leaders intentionally obscure the consequences of populism will continue to suffer its effects: social fragmentation, economic collapse and political instability.
To shield democratic systems from the damaging effects of populism, we need the vigilance, education and resistance of civil society, the media and the global community.
To counter this wave, we need reforms, transparency, strong legal frameworks and active citizen participation.
As history and current trends show, democracies must defend themselves against modern populism vigorously or risk internal collapse.
Populism poses a grave danger, deceptively dismantling societies under the guise of social progress.
Vulnerable populations, victims of poverty and injustice, back populist leaders seeking relief, only to face increased exploitation.
The world risks falling under the control of dictators masquerading as populists if we don’t counter this threat now.
This is a greater threat than the dictatorship.
—The writer is Commoner from 44th Common Educationist — Founder of WHI Institute. based in Sargodha.(waqarhassancsp@gmail.com)
