Why Does Populism Have a Future?

Abstract

The following research aims to present Populism as a phenomenon and the reasons why it has a future all over the world. The XXI - st century is also known as the "Populist era" (Cas Mudde). Both the left and the right have nothing more to offer and give the people who want something new. The change should also give them security. Populism has a future because it is not an ideology. It "borrows" the most appropriate from the left and the right ideologies and "adjusts" them to people’s problems and gives solutions. Populism is a global phenomenon. Today we are witnessing the 4-th wave which is spreading all over the world. The former 3 waves have been mainly in Latin America, the place which is also considered its cradle, as Ernesto Laclua argues. Many political scientists such as Cas Mudde, have warned about the threat of the rising Populism, at the beginning of the century, but nobody paid attention. Why is Populism becoming more and more popular? The main reason is that it constantly changes. It’s different in every country and always has "the right solutions" to the different problems of the different societies. Hence, it aims not only those who don’t sympathize any political party, but also those who are disappointed, have doubts and those who don’t feel represented. Secondly, the populist leader is always close to the people: he dresses like them, understands their problems, walks among the people and doesn’t have bodyguards. He doesn’t need to say "I am one of you!" because it is obvious. The political scientists talk about "Left Populism" and "Right Populism". The first one is typical for countries with serious social problems – mainly in Latin America. Whereas the second type characterizes the countries with well-developed economies – in Western Europe and the USA. There are not many researches made about the Populism in Bulgaria. Political scientists start using the word in the last decade and it is applicable to all parties. Georgi Karasimeonov and Daniel Smilov, argue that Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha is the first Bulgarian populist leader. Even after his government, the people still look for someone "to save" them, which only proves that Populism is not over and it is something useful because it brings hope. The used methods are: sociological research, taking interviews, analyzing data and deduction. The paper contains the author’s personal researches, made in the University of Sao Paulo, in Brazil.