THE RISE OF POPULISM AND ITS IMPACT ON DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.29121/shodhkosh.v4.i2.2023.4423Keywords:
Populism, Democratic Institutions, Judicial Independence, Media Freedom, Public Trust, Comparative Analysis, Political Science, Governance, Democratic Erosion, Populist Rhetoric, United States, India, Hungary, Institutional Decline, Executive OverreachAbstract [English]
The rise of populism has become a defining feature of global politics, influencing democratic institutions across established and emerging democracies. This study examines the causes behind the rise of populist movements and their impact on democratic governance. Through a comparative analysis of the United States, India, and Hungary, this article explores how populist leadership affects institutional checks and balances, media freedom, and public trust. Using data from the World Bank Governance Indicators (2019–2022) and the V-Dem dataset, the study identifies patterns of institutional erosion and democratic backsliding. Findings reveal that populist regimes often undermine judicial independence and restrict civil liberties while amplifying majoritarian narratives. The paper concludes by emphasizing the need for resilient democratic frameworks and proposes areas for future research to better understand the evolving relationship between populism and democracy.
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