Abstract:

Having been summarized in the classical Lincoln formula as “government of the people, by the people and for the people”, democracy is undoubtedly the most wished and ‘popular’ form of government that derives its legitimacy from the people. Populism is an anti-democratic political style, political ideology or strategy, although it promotes the people by resorting to democratic means and apparatuses. There is not much argument on what-populism-is-not while there are debates and approaches on whatpopulism-is and how it should be defined since it sees itself as the real and sole representative of the people which is against pluralism, a sine qua non requirement for democracy. Grasping representative politics as too complicated and confusing, seeing itself as simple and direct, populisms are, however, “half-heartedly political” and benefiting from the democratic regime(s) facilities. In this study, firstly the problematic relation between democracy and populism, secondly the genealogical connections between fascism and populism are examined. Thirdly, militant democracy, as a caution against fascism in the 1930s, is argued from the perspective that whether it could be devised as an institutional and theoretical caution against contemporary populism ‘diagnosed’ as “tamed fascism” and “corrupted democracy” by reviewing the relevant literature as well as taking the conceptualizations like strong democracy, anti-populism, left populism against right wing populism into account. Finally, how populism is conceived and defined shapes its position in the face democracy as well as the democratic tools and the struggle against it within democratic rules. In addition, another factor determining the relations and interactions between these two concepts is political conjuncture of the historical era. It can be said that the 21st century’s world does not possess the same optimism about democracy and democratic regimes that emerged after the second half of 20th century, that is why the sensitiveness to protecting democracy within the borders of and in the name of democracy against anti-democratic and extremist movements has increased.

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