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9 months ago in Political Science , Sociology By Madhu B

Can populism play a role in fostering inclusive citizenship?

Populism is often discussed as a threat to democracy and pluralism.However, some argue it can mobilize politically excluded groups.I’m interested in whether populism can ever support inclusive citizenship rather than undermine it.

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By Shraddha Answered 6 months ago

From my experience analyzing populist movements, I have seen that populism can momentarily widen participation by giving voice to groups who feel ignored by elites. In that sense, it can activate dormant citizenship. However, I have also seen how its tendency to define a narrow “people” often creates new exclusions. I would recommend treating populism as ambivalent: it can open the door to inclusion rhetorically, but sustaining inclusive citizenship requires institutional pluralism beyond populist frames.

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