Populist Strongmen: Threat or Remedy to Democracy?

This paper investigates the relationship between populist attitudes and support for strongman leaders. It argues that populist attitudes are not monolithic, but rather encompass distinct forms: anti-establishment populism and authoritarian populism. While the former favors more direct democracy, the latter leans towards strongman leadership, even at the cost of democratic institutions and economic stability. Analyzing survey data from nine countries, the study finds that in most cases, support for populist leaders stems primarily from authoritarian populist attitudes, not anti-establishment ones. This suggests the appeal of populist strongmen lies not in democratic ideals, but in the allure of authoritarian governance.