The Role of Populism in Undermining and Revitalising Democracy: A Contemporary Example

This report examines the impact of populism on democracy using a contemporary example of the COVID-19 pandemic. It explores how populism can both undermine and revitalise democracy, with examples of politicians' parties that have done both. The report also discusses the concept of revitalising democracy and how it can be achieved.

USING A
CONTEMPORARY
EXAMPLE ASSESS THE
ROLE OF POPULISM IN
UNDERMINING OR
REVITALISING
DEMOCRACY

TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION ..........................................................................................................................3
MAIN BODY...................................................................................................................................3
In relation to Corona virus role of populism in undermining and Revitalizing democracy........3
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Populism is a kind political stance, or they try to build different between upward class
people and common people (Urbinati., 2019). In simple words populism is ideology of people
who have the power and capability to control their government and populism also damages the
global trading. This report highlights the meaning of populism, revitalizing and undermining
democracy and the role of populism in revitalize and undermining democracy.
MAIN BODY
In relation to Corona virus role of populism in undermining and Revitalizing democracy
Populism is the idea which separate society into two groups that are corrupt and elite pure
people. It is a threat for the democracy because it carries the potential which offers the state with
the moral status which are lack in current situation (Moffitt., 2020.). They have no plans for self-
absorption once they start then they are focused towards achieving it. They focus on the people
not on elite one and provide representative democracy. If they are in power then continuously
unable to resume people's faith in government since their policy fails, then they make recure
crises by serial populism if democratic accountability. During covid19 there are rules like in
lock-down no one allowed to go outside due to safety reasons. At that time government focus on
safety of people and avoid functions, get together and ban parties, but at that time a politician
organized a party and a huge crowd is there so rules are applied on every one. So this issue is
arisen by populism that where is equality and if there is a Covid infected person in that party then
it becomes major problem (Lasco., 2020). This issue is taken into action by populism parties
because it is not fair for public, if there is any infected person in the party then that person infects
other individuals then it may cause rise in Covid cases which is not good for democracy. It
results in undermining democracy, the power of politicians are declining, at that time it becomes
the major issue. During Covid-19 pandemic democracy is undermining because at that time
many people left their jobs, increase in unemployment, at that time people faced problems like
they don't have money for their treatment, the first wave gave the major impact in economy. In
that time power of politician is decreased. So, that issue is taken by populism that due to party
there is high risk of people's life.
The purpose of populism is to increase the political power of farmers, and work for there
interest or rights. For example, if a person not getting the fair wages then they should have rights
to ask for fair wages, if they are not getting, then they should take some action to get fair wages.

In many countries disable people are treat as equal as normal people but there are some people
who don't value them. It undermines democracy so there should be equal rights and treat equally.
Once the nation turns into the expression of the various people then defence system developed
against the many, like checks, individual rights, group rights, rule of law, autonomous social
institution, freedom of doing anything, pluralism are inevitable under threat. In advance more
relevant and bad aspect of populism that undermines the relationship among citizens (Meijers
and Zaslove., 2021). The respect to minority group and political opponents are weakened the
culture of debates. It is true that populists are democrats, in simple words increase in the numbers
of populism have positive effects such as the parties who raise the issue on equality and how
politician become irresponsible in related to health of citizen (Pappas., 2019). Moreover,
employee fair wages is a positive side of populism, from this, workers will get good standard of
living and full-fill their basic requirement. Populism is transitive and progressive force, it is
necessary to conduct an analysis of various problems faced by democracies to strengthen and
revitalization democracy institutions from the damages that are exposed. The neo-liberal is
established on the political levels and economical regimes. The actions taken by populism is on
health issue which had great impact in revitalization democracy. Populism is created for helping
individual or citizen by these group it helps in making them equal and have equal rights. This
helps citizen to feel equal. During Covid there are many issues arrived, so they help in solving
them, and they provide rules which have to be followed. The issue they took from the party
related issue was not good for the citizen of the countries (Brubaker., 2020). They make policies
which help people to get there rights and live their life accordingly, they solved many internal
and external issue of the countries. They are the middle man between government and the
citizen, as they encourage people to live their life in good manner and get what they want. Due to
Covid there are many issues arrived such as there were no functions, no parties etc. For safety of
people from Covid at that particular time when many powers are undermines. Populism is form
due to or aim of enhance the condition of the farmers and workers. Many problems that were
faced by lower class people, So this might help them and aware them of their rights which help
them in fulfilling their needs and requirement. Movement played a major role in politics for
making decision.
Revitalizing democracy means restoration of the democracy. 31 January 2020 when
corona virus first entered in UK it has made darken the picture of democracy. As illiberal leaders

seized the moment of ramp up the executive powers, banned the public protests, elections are
getting postpone and limit to the public rights but made the public health very first concern. At
that time around 3 million life were lost and in UK alone at least 127000 lives were lost. This
pandemic has tested the relationship of citizens and government. Sometimes increasing political
and social tension. Political trust has become emerge key in the people relation to state (Barbas,
2022). This crisis was totally health crises. Political trust means trust that citizens have in their
government. In extent to see that how much they can trust their government. It is the time to
understand that rather unsurprising in observing links between political trust and prejudice in
favour of citizens. From sometime there are a restriction of public gathering and citizen so
innovation is their of online conferences, online meetings etc. democracy also conducting
everything on the visual basis as most of the countries are under serious state of emergency and
UK was at top. Illiberal leaders are turning democracy as doing the centralized power and
entrenching their position of power. As democratic life has been curtailed including the issues of
postponing of elections and parliamentary work (Honeybone, 2020). Democracy are battling
growing inequalities. In UK local and mayoral elections set to take place back were pushed back.
Democratic, electoral and parliamentary life is struggling to finding the way out to adopt some
new realities of confinement and socials distancing. AS when populist movement will play role
in the politics as an expert it helps the democracy as expropriating the citizens, sovereignty and
participate in decision-making. Now beyond politicians doctors, public health experts are
frequently visiting and expressing their views on press conference and news programs. Populist
parties are going to abandon their substances which are moderate and decision-making (Kip,
2022). In the movement when decision must be made quickly and soon of political debate. UK
has continued their democracy with prime minister Boris Johnson. As continuing with same and
great politician country al the decision which were made by political party is directly handled by
them only, they can't put blame on anyone else. They made the democracy strong and powerful
as to face if their will be any crises in future and enlightening the political decision and also
protecting them from endorsing political responsibilities. Democracy is going to promote the
citizen engagement for preventing another nationalist and anti-establishment wave. Direct
democracy leads to citizen-led councils, online consultancy. Democracy which is trustworthy
will keep the information safe that might help in future at any point of time (Kordas, 2020).
Democracy has transferred towards working together, in partnership with health related bodies,

tech companies and civil society so that any part could be helpful at the time of emergency in the
country. They have to be advertised their own democracy to bring trust towards citizen again and
prove them by being anti corrupt while bring awareness of freedom and what are civil
responsibilities.
CONCLUSION
This report highlights the concepts of populism, how it forms and role of populism in
democracy. Also included how Covid 19 has put impact on democracy. Moreover, this report
have some examples of politician's party which is undermines democracy and also illustrated
role of corona virus in revitalization democracy, UK democracy is string and powerful to take
political decision.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Barbas, Á. and Treré, E., 2022. The rise of a new media ecosystem: exploring 15M’s
educommunicative legacy for radical democracy. Social Movement Studies. pp.1-21.
Brubaker, R., 2020. Populism and nationalism.Nations and nationalism.26(1). pp.44-66.
Honeybone, P.R., 2020. The decisive reset: attainable governance for revitalising democracy
(Doctoral dissertation, UCL (University College London)).
Kip, M. and Oevermann, H., 2022. Neighbourhood Revitalisation and Heritage Conservation
through Adaptive Reuse: Assessing Instruments for Commoning. The Historic
Environment: Policy & Practice, pp.1-25.
Kordas, G., 2020. Book review: Democracy Beyond Elections: government accountability in the
media age by Gergana Dimova. LSE European Politics and Policy (EUROPP).
Lasco, G., 2020. Medical populism and the COVID-19 pandemic.Global Public
Health.15(10).pp.1417-1429.
Meijers, M.J. and Zaslove, A., 2021. Measuring populism in political parties: appraisal of a new
approach.Comparative political studies.54(2). pp.372-407.
Moffitt, B., 2020.Populism. John Wiley & Sons.
Pappas, T.S., 2019.Populism and liberal democracy: A comparative and theoretical analysis.
Oxford University Press.
Urbinati, N., 2019. Political theory of populism.Annual Review of Political Science.22.pp.111-
127.