Populism

Populism is a word that is often used in connection with current political trends in Europe and North America. Populists usually try to dramatise and exaggerate problems - and solutions - in order to win popular support. They can represent ideologies from both sides of the political spectrum, but all of them have one thing in common: they want to attract the support of common people with their slogans, and to claim to represent them against the government and established parties.

Populists propose simple solutions that often involve returning to an imagined "golden age" of the past. They reject opposing points of view as lies and attempt to discredit and undermine expert opinions. This short animated video explains the meaning of populism and analyses why it represents a danger to democracy.