When the classical approach is not enough – An in-depth analysis of the populist transformation of economic policies in Central and Eastern Europe

Abstract

Populism is not new in politics, with populist initiatives having appeared in the United States already in the first half of the 19th century. Populist regimes or populist elements have since then periodically emerged around the world, based on the idea that society is divided into two homogeneous and opposing groups, the „people” and the „corrupt elite”. This phenomenon has been described by Cas Mudde as a narrow-centred ideology with no specific socio-economic orientation or ideology (see Mudde, 2004), so it is no coincidence that populism has appeared on both sides of the political spectrum. Populism does not give room for pluralism, it views checks and balances that limit political power as tools of a corrupt elite, and thus represents a threat to liberal democracies at their very core. An academic study of populism, particularly its economic dimension, is therefore of the utmost importance, as a better understanding of the phenomenon can help to combat it more effectively. This is why the book „Economic policies of populist leaders”, edited by István Benczes and published by Routledge, can be particularly exciting, as it takes a creative and innovative approach to answering very important questions.