Syndrome of populism and the evolution of post-Soviet regimes
Journal: Frontiers in Political Science
Year: 2025

The juxtaposition of “us” the people vs. “them” the elites and the demonization of outsiders have been the recurring themes across the post-Soviet space, from opposition party programs to the political rhetoric of chief executives. Is populism, often defined as a manifestation of nativism, anti-elitism, and xenophobia in party politics, social movements, policy, and leadership styles, a useful concept for the study of post-Soviet politics? To answer this question, I trace a range political manif