Populism “in a Russian Way”. A historical Approach

Abstract

This article intends to reflect on the Russian populism peculiarity. Indeed, over the years it lost its original feature to be asserted as a hybrid phenomenon combining parts of the contemporary populism with specific aspects of the Russian tradition. The scarce participation of the intermediate bodies, the use of a messianic argument to validate new political projects, and the success of charismatic leaders acting on behalf of people considered an indistinct crowd unable to make its voice heard are characteristics of populistic phenomena featuring of the Russian history as well. The same Putin, although not emerged from a populist platform, converted himself in a reference model for the twenty-first century populist movement perpetuating in his nation a system forbidding the consolidation of a substantive democracy in favour of a strongly personalised authoritarian power.

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