Reflections on the Future of Conservative Populism

Abstract: This paper will focus on one dimension of contemporary populism which I believe is the most dangerous for ex-communist countries. Designated as “conservative populism,” its most powerful resource is the past. Memory is used to legitimize populist claims and to delegitimize open discussion and solutions of complex problems in the present. The cultivation of national identity via heritage, tradition, and collective memory played a crucial role in the formation of modern nations. “Conservative populism” abuses this logic by radicalizing the opposition between cultural identity and liberal democratic order, thus creating false dichotomies and offering populist solutions.

Svetoslav Malinov is one of the most authoritative researchers in Bulgaria on the history of political ideas. He is a lecturer and head of the Department of Political Science at the Faculty of Philosophy, Sofia University.

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