A reminder that populism can go too far

If I were to ask you to imagine a populist, I assume you would think of an outsider political figure who is fighting on behalf of the people, not the elites—a person who is against the established corrupted ruling class, who will fight for the rights of “the people.”

That is not wrong by any means, but I would not say that is entirely the truth about populism. Now, populism in healthy doses can be good for democracy, as it brings new representatives to the forefront and ensures the people’s voices are heard. However, too much populism can do more harm to democracy than good.

Populism is inherently majoritarian; the purpose of populism is to enact the will of the people. In countries like the U.S., our system is built on liberal democratic principles. Liberal democracies ensure the rights of the minority against the majority; this can be traced back to Federalist 10 and the idea of the “tyranny of the majority.”

However, populists who obtain power oppose these safeguards for the minority.

They will see the “corrupt establishment elites” as trying to hold them back. To combat this, the populist will work to erode the systematic checks and balances that hold their executive power accountable, undermining institutions and agencies.

They will attack the courts and replace these “corrupt” institutions with those who will work for “the people.” These populists become demagogues with self-centered interests.

History holds many examples of figures who were considered populist. Former Alabama Governor George Wallace is an example of an all-American populist. Wallace came into office spouting the segregationist perspectives, appealing to white working-class voters not only in Dixieland, but in parts of the country like the Midwest. Wallace additionally attacked “briefcase-toting bureaucrats” and the “elites.”

Another figure is Hugo Chávez of Venezuela. He came into power in 1999, where upon he states how the Constitution and the “ill-fated political system” that followed it must die. Within hours of that, Chávez worked to revise the Constitution and locked in his political advantage, abusing his political power.

The present is not different—populists get into power and are questionable. Right-wing populist Viktor Orbán, prime minister of Hungary, has been in power for 14 years and contributed to democratic backsliding in his country. El Salvador’s president Nayib Bukele in 2019 ordered soldiers to intimidate the legislative assembly to pass a motion. The newest right-wing populist on the block, Javier Milei, rode the wave of being a political outsider and vows to solve Argentina’s economic crisis by dismantling the Central Bank and switching to using the American Dollar.

Though it can be good at times, I just wanted to remind everyone of what happens when populism goes a little too far. Just be weary when you hear someone talking about how they will bring “new leadership and a fresh direction” and how they may claim to understand how to “progress forward.” Too much of anything is dangerous, and moderation is key.