Rethinking Representation: Realism, Populism, and Plebiscitary Leadership in Contemporary Europe

The article revisits the trajectory of representative democracy in Europe over the last decade, examining how the realist turn in democratic theory, the rise of populism and digital innovation have reshaped political representation. Contrary to narratives of democratic decline, representation adapts through personalized leadership, digital platforms, and new intermediaries filling the increasing gap between citizens and elites. In Western Europe, Movements like the Five Star Movement, Podemos, and En Marche! illustrate the tensions between anti-establishment participation and the reproduction of hierarchical structures. In Eastern Europe, the main challenges have come from parties such as Fidesz, PiS and SMER. In 2015, an influential book by Simon Tormey diagnosed the “end of representative politics”. This book captured the disquiet permeating established democracies. Declining voter turnout, shrinking party membership, the erosion of trust in politicians and of interest in politics seemed to indicate that the institutional architecture of representative democracy was collapsing under the weight of its own detachment. Revisiting these arguments a decade later, through a comparative analysis of how traditional forms of representative democracy coexist with new forms of direct, deliberative, and technocratic democracy, the article argues for a balanced synthesis of deliberation and representation, emphasizing institutional capacity to manage pluralism and sustain accountability amid evolving communication and political landscapes. It highlights democratic mutation rather than death, calling for pragmatic reforms acknowledging political realities and fostering engaged, mediated representation.