How can policymakers challenge populism?

The populism movement, with its exclusionary, conspiracist, and anti-minority views, remains ever-present in European politics today. The DEMOS Project presents policymakers with effective strategies to challenge the populist threat, based on scientifically gathered data and research.

DEMOS (Democratic Efficacy and the Varieties of Populism in Europe) is a research and innovation project studying populism and its impacts on democracy. Funded by the EU Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, the project is carried out by 15 partner institutions in Europe and involves 10 scientific disciplines. DEMOS investigates the phenomenon of populism through the lenses of democratic efficacy. The idea combines attitudinal features (political efficacy), political skills, knowledge, and democratic opportunity structures. A novelty, democratic efficacy is understood as a condition of political engagement needed to address the challenges of populism.