Populism and Its Impact on Democratic Institutions: An Analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55737/rl.2025.42073Keywords:
Democratic Institutions, Governance, Institutional Deterioration, Judicial Independence, , Civil FreedomsAbstract
In order to find trends of institutional decline under populist governments, this study looks into how populism impacts the stability and operation of democratic institutions. Because populism has become more popular worldwide and regularly deviates from established democratic norms, it is crucial to look into how it affects institutional integrity and governance. A comprehensive analysis of legal, political, and institutional changes was conducted, along with a comparative analysis of populist regimes in various regions using qualitative case studies. It is recommended that civic education be encouraged, the balance of power be reinforced, and international cooperation be expanded to safeguard democratic values and counteract populist inclinations. According to the findings, populism often jeopardizes the long-term sustainability of democratic institutions by undermining judicial independence, eroding civil liberties, and expanding executive power.
References
Akman, U. (2019). Rise of right-wing populism in Europe?: The case of alternative für Deutschland (AfD) in Germany (Doctoral dissertation). https://research.sabanciuniv.edu/id/eprint/39108
Al Waroi, M. N. A. L., Riyanta, S., & Rustam, M. R. Populism and the Erosion of Democratic Checks and Balances: A Systematic Literature Review across Regions. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS, 07(10). https://doi.org/10.47191/ijmra/v7-i10-18
Berman, S. (2021). The causes of populism in the west. Annual Review of Political Science (Palo Alto, Calif.), 24(1), 71–88. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-polisci-041719-102503
Cheeseman, N. (2016). Populism in Africa: Ethnicity, Solidarity, and the Potential for Inclusive Politics. Comparative Politics Newsletter, 26(2), 25-31.
De Cleen, B., Glynos, J., & Mondon, A. (2018). Critical research on populism: Nine rules of engagement. Organization (London, England), 25(5), 649–661. https://doi.org/10.1177/1350508418768053
Diamond, L. (2015). Facing up to the democratic recession. Journal of Democracy, 26(1), 141–155. https://doi.org/10.1353/jod.2015.0009
Hossain, M. N. (2024). Between the People and Power: Populism's Role in Democratic Backsliding in Emerging Nations. Available at SSRN 5147250. https://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.5147250
Kaltwasser, C. R., & Taggart, P. (2025). Populism and Democracy: Mapping the Field. PS: Political Science & Politics, 58(1), 69-71. https://doi.org/10.1017/s1049096524000830
Katsambekis, G. (2017). The populist surge in post‐democratic times: Theoretical and political challenges. The Political Quarterly, 88(2), 202–210. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-923x.12317
Mudde, C., & Kaltwasser, C. R. (2017). Populism: A very short introduction. Oxford University Press.
Mueller, J.-W. (2016). What is populism? University of Pennsylvania Press.
Nurdin, A., Setiawan, A., & Nugraha, A. R. (2024). The Rise of Populism and Its Impact on Democratic Institutions: A Comparative Analysis of Global Trends. International Journal of Social and Human, 1(2), 67-84. http://dx.doi.org/10.59613/7843ew44
Oswald, M. (Ed.). (2022). The Palgrave handbook of populism (p. 3). Cham, Switzerland: pal grave macmillan.
Rizky, M., Arsyad, A., & Imran, M. (2024). Populism in Politics is a Global Phenomenon and a Challenge to Democracy. In World Conference on Governance and Social Sciences (WCGSS 2023) (pp. 719–729). Atlantis Press.
Thapa, M. (2025). The Populist Surge: Analyzing its Global Dimensions and Implications for Democratic Governance. Journal of Political Science, 25, 179-200. https://doi.org/10.3126/jps.v25i1.75781
Velasco, A., & Bucelli, I. (2022). Populism: Origins and Alternative Policy Responses (p. 161). LSE Press.
Venizelos, G., & Markou, G. (2024). In opposition and in government. In Research handbook on populism (pp. 360-372). Edward Elgar Publishing. https://doi.org/10.4337/9781800379695.00043