WHY DEMOCRACY GIVES RISE TO POPULIST LEADERSHIP? CASE STUDY OF THE USA

Abstract

Populism is on the rise in the twenty-first century. Most of the major world democracies are affected by it. The United States of America, despite the flag bearer of liberal democracy is also experiencing the rise of populist leadership. Populist actors, after coming into power cause democratic backsliding. The consequence of populist rise suggest that it is a challenge to democracy, and particularly liberal democracy. Liberal democracies have reached to this point after countering many barriers and hurdles on its way. At such point, when democracy faces challenges in the form of populism which can cause de-democratization the question arises that why does democracy give rise to populist leadership at first place? To explore the reasons behind this problem, qualitative research methods are applied in this study. Populism in historical context is studied, particularly in the USA. The reasons behind rise of populism are studied and based on comparative study and analysis it is hypothesized that there are some weaknesses in democracy as a political system which give rise to populism.