Observers on both sides of the political divide revise their assessment of the right-wing Italian Prime Minister, although what is views as a negative phenomenon for one is seen as a positive sign for the other. READ MORE
If former Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico wins the elections in September, commentators suggest that a new populist axis will emerge in Central Europe. READ MORE
András Fekete-Győr argued that the 700 billion Forints it would thus cost to vaccinate 7 million people would be worth the resulting herd immunity. At present, less than 40 per cent of Hungarians appear willing to get vaccinated, while half of the remaining two-thirds are resolutely opposed to vaccination. READ MORE
A conservative pundit wonders if populist politics can go beyond mere demagogic ranting and design policies that help the masses grapple with economic and identity-related challenges. READ MORE
A left-leaning political scientist argues that liberals who like to lambast populist politicians also use the people as a legitimation tool – at least in terms of the markets. READ MORE
A left-wing sociologist believes that Mr Orbán’s success is due to the popularity of illiberal populist politics in the wider world READ MORE
A conservative political analyst criticises the propensity of what he calls ‘technocratic political movements’ to label their opponents with popular ideas as populist. Such technocratic language, he suggests, is no less demagogic than the populist rhetoric against which they protest. READ MORE
A left-wing economist debunks what he calls a self-complacent liberal theory whereby liberals fail in Hungary because the populace is backward, unlike the liberal élites themselves who match the high standards of western-type democracy. READ MORE
A left-wing sociologist thinks that emotional and radical political mobilization are the only games in town, and both Left and Right can only hope to make an impression on the public by sending simplified and populist messages. READ MORE
Commentators unanimously predict that Donald Trump will bring something entirely new into American and world politics, but disagree on whether to welcome or fear that novelty. READ MORE