Populism and Democratic Innovations: the Good, the Bad or the Ugly?

Abstract

The rise of populism is a core concern. One response is to give citizens more options to make their voice heard via democratic innovations, as Macron did by installing a ‘Great Debate’ after the Yellow Vest Protests. But to what extent can participatory reform respond to the populist challenge? This topic refers both to theoretical compatibility or contradictions among the two and to empirical questions: (1) Is populism an expression of desire for a more participatory kind of democracy? (2) Can participatory reform and deliberation address populism? (3) which innovations are most suitable? Populism scholars note that populism can be a threat or corrective. This panel aims to take stock of what we know so far: do democratic innovations reinforce the good, the bad or the ugly aspects of populism? It aims at connecting the field of democratic innovations to the field of populism, welcoming both theoretical and empirical contributions.

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