Why Populist Leaders Succeed

Abstract

We have recently witnessed the rise of populist leaders across the world. What makes those leaders so successful? We still do not quite know. This article offers an answer. The public and private spheres are typically kept distinct and apart in contemporary societies. Populist leaders, however, behave in the public sphere as if they were in the private sphere: they say and do things that are normally only said and done in private. This unorthodox approach resonates strongly with those who feel like the public sphere has left them behind.