EUROPE'S NEW POPULISM

In: The national interest, Band 30, Heft 30, S. 37-40

Abstract

ANOTHER POLITICAL ERA HAS ARRIVED AND WITH IT A STYLE WHICH CAN BE DESCRBIED AS POPULISM. THIS ARTICLE STUDIES WHAT POPULISM IS AND WHY ITS VARIOUS MANIFESTATIONS DESTABILIZE EUROPEAN POLITICS JUST AT THE MOMENT WHEN THE COLLAPSE OF THE SOVIET UNION AND ITS EMPIRE IN EASTERN EUROPE SIGNALS AN END TO THE DANGER OF A MAJOR WAR. THERE ARE MANY FACTORS ENCOURAGING POPULIST POLITICS IN EUROPE TODAY WHICH ARE DESCRIBED IN THIS ARTICLE WHICH CONCLUDES THAT THE FUTURE OF EUROPEAN POLITICS WILL REMAIN TURBULENT, UNTIL MOSCA'S POLITICAL CLASS REMEMBERS THAT IT MUST ADDRESS THE REAL PREOCCUPATIONS OF THE GOVERNED, AND THAT INSTITUTIONS ARE NOT MADE BY SUMMIT CONFERENCES ALONE, BUT ACCUMULATE AUTHORITY THROUGH HABIT AND USE OVER A LONG PERIOD.