Don't panic about populism: greater threats abound

The document contends that the widespread panic regarding 'populism' as a threat to democracy is misplaced because populism is often a secondary ideology. The author distinguishes between left-wing populists, who are generally not anti-pluralist, and the radical right, whose threat to liberal democracy is rooted in xenophobic nationalism and anti-immigration agendas. The text highlights that the real danger lies in the broader corrosion of fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, often adopted by mainstream parties in the name of national security and identity.

• Populism is described as a 'thin' or secondary ideology that accompanies more substantial core ideologies, such as socialism for the radical left or nationalism for the radical right, rather than being the primary driver of anti-liberal policies.
• Left-wing populist parties and their voters in Western Europe are not typically anti-pluralist or anti-liberal, despite using rhetoric that criticizes elites and advocates for the empowerment of the people.
• The actual threat to liberal democracy from the radical right is rooted in xenophobic nationalism and authoritarianism, specifically focusing on anti-immigration and anti-Islam policies in Western Europe and ethnic minorities or immigration in Eastern Europe.
• The most significant current threat to liberal democracies is the general corrosion of fundamental freedoms and the rule of law, which is increasingly seen in mainstream parties that adopt restrictive positions on immigration and security to compete with the far-right.

APA

Akkerman, T. (2017). Don't panic about populism: greater threats abound. Green European Journal. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/dont-panic-about-populism-greater-threats-abound/

Chicago

Akkerman, Tjitske. Don't panic about populism: greater threats abound. Green European Journal, 2017. https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/dont-panic-about-populism-greater-threats-abound/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Akkerman |first1=Tjitske |title=Don't panic about populism: greater threats abound |publisher=Green European Journal |date=14 November 2017 |url=https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/dont-panic-about-populism-greater-threats-abound/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{akkerman2017dont, author = {Akkerman, Tjitske}, title = {{Don't panic about populism: greater threats abound}}, institution = {Green European Journal}, year = {2017}, month = nov, url = {https://www.greeneuropeanjournal.eu/dont-panic-about-populism-greater-threats-abound/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }