Democratic Efficacy and the Varieties of Populism in Europe

DEMOS (Democratic Efficacy and the Varieties of Populism in Europe) is a research project aiming at better understanding populism. Funded by the EU Horizon 2020 Framework Program, the project is carried out by 15 partner institutions in Europe, one of which is the Faculty of Law of PIM University, and it involves 10 disciplines.

DEMOS investigates the phenomenon of populism through the lenses of democratic efficacy. The concept combines attitudinal features (political efficacy), political skills, knowledge, and democratic opportunity structures.  The concept, a novelty, is understood as a condition of political engagement needed to address the challenges of populism.

DEMOS addresses its hitherto under-researched aspects at micro-, meso-, and macro-levels: its socio-psychological roots, social actors’ responses to the populist challenge, and populism’s effects on governance. DEMOS focuses not only on the polity, but equally on citizens’ perspectives: how they are affected by, and how they react to, populism. Politically underrepresented groups and those targeted by populist politics are a particular focus.

The results of the research that have been obtained, as well as those that will be obtained, can be found at www.demos-h2020.eu.