Home / Summaries / Oakshotts conservative man and how he reacts to change / muller-pluralism-democracy

Populism and its negative effects on democracy (Müller)

Q: N one exam-style sentence, what are the negative effects of populism on democracy?

Populism damages democracy by denying pluralism , branding opponents as illegitimate, and, once in power, capturing the state, corrupting institutions, and weakening independent checks , thereby hollowing out liberal democracy from within.

Q: Why does Müller call populism a “degraded form of democracy”?

Because it uses democratic language (“the people,” elections, referenda) but undermines pluralism and institutions , turning democracy into something that is formally popular but substantively antidemocratic.

Q: According to Müller, what two features define populism?

Populism combines moralized antielitism with antipluralism : populists are against “corrupt elites” and claim that they alone represent the “real people.”

Q: Why is populism anti-pluralist?

Because populists imply “ We are the 100 percent ”: if you disagree with them, you are not really part of the proper people , so opposition is treated as illegitimate.

Q: Why does this anti-pluralism clash with democracy?

Democracy needs pluralism and fair terms for living together as diverse, equal citizens . Populists deny that diversity by insisting there is one authentic people whose will cannot be wrong.

Q: How do populists typically treat their political opponents?

They treat them as “enemies of the people” , not as legitimate rivals, and often seek to exclude or discredit them instead of just arguing with them.

Q: How can populists change constitutions, and why is this harmful?

They may write “exclusive” constitutions designed to keep themselves in power , justified by claiming to enforce the “true” popular will, which undermines fair competition and the rule of law.

Q: What three main features does Müller identify in populist governance?

Occupying the state – capturing courts, bureaucracy, public media. Corruption and mass clientelism – using state resources to reward loyal supporters. Suppressing critical civil society – attacking independent media, NGOs, and other watchdogs.

8 important questions on Populism and its negative effects on democracy (Müller)

N one exam-style sentence, what are the negative effects of populism on democracy?

Populism damages democracy by denying pluralism, branding opponents as illegitimate, and, once in power, capturing the state, corrupting institutions, and weakening independent checks, thereby hollowing out liberal democracy from within.

Why does Müller call populism a “degraded form of democracy”?

Because it uses democratic language (“the people,” elections, referenda) but undermines pluralism and institutions, turning democracy into something that is formally popular but substantively antidemocratic.

According to Müller, what two features define populism?

Populism combines moralized antielitism with antipluralism: populists are against “corrupt elites” and claim that they alone represent the “real people.”

Why is populism anti-pluralist?

Because populists imply “We are the 100 percent”: if you disagree with them, you are not really part of the proper people, so opposition is treated as illegitimate.

Why does this anti-pluralism clash with democracy?

Democracy needs pluralism and fair terms for living together as diverse, equal citizens. Populists deny that diversity by insisting there is one authentic people whose will cannot be wrong.

How do populists typically treat their political opponents?

They treat them as “enemies of the people”, not as legitimate rivals, and often seek to exclude or discredit them instead of just arguing with them.

How can populists change constitutions, and why is this harmful?

They may write “exclusive” constitutions designed to keep themselves in power, justified by claiming to enforce the “true” popular will, which undermines fair competition and the rule of law.