Populism, Affective Polarization, and Worldwide Democratic Backsliding. Interview with Cas Mudde

Abstract

In recent decades, the rise of populism, the normalization of authoritarian discourses, and the growing affective polarization have tested the resilience of liberal democracies worldwide. In this interview, Dr. Cas Mudde, Stanley Wade Shelton UGAF Professor of International Affairs at the University of Georgia and one of the most influential scholars in the study of populism and authoritarianism, whom I thank for his time and willingness to participate, analyzes the main factors that have weakened democratic institutions and the rule of law in Latin America and Europe. He also examines the rise of radical ideologies and nationalist projects, the distinction between ideological and affective polarization, and models of "militant democracy" as well as the links between antidemocratic actors. Finally, Professor Mudde reflects on the lessons that Latin America, marked by hyperpresidentialism and populism, offers to the global debate on processes of autocratization and the future prospects for democratic transition in the region.