Political parties are increasingly adopting populist appeals, not necessarily because of ideological realignments, but out of a desire to mimic the successful strategies of their competitors. Vlad Surdea-Hernea reveals how anti-elite messaging is spreading like a virus across European democracies, reshaping political discourse as parties emulate populist tactics
Populist rhetoric is no longer confined to the fringes — it’s shaping mainstream political strategies across Europe. Vlad Surdea-Hernea argues that leadership transitions function as hidden catalysts, driving moderate parties to embrace anti-elite and people-centric narratives. These shifts redefine party identities but also ripple through political systems, altering the tone and content of public debate
Far-right populist parties have become crucial actors in shaping domestic policymaking across European democracies. Vlad Surdea-Hernea argues that populists have sensed an opportunity in the increasing salience of climate change. They have turned their attention towards limiting ambitious climate policy, thereby impeding or even reversing pro-environmental progress
Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna
Vlad is a quantitative political scientist with interests in political behaviour, party politics, and historical political economy.
His research examines the interaction between proximate and distal factors in shaping how individuals express their political preferences through voting, protesting, or climate change-related activism.
His work has been published in the European Political Science Review, the European Journal of Political Research, Comparative Political Studies, and Economics of Transition and Institutional Change.
Outside of academia, Vlad is a fellow of the European Center for Populism Studies, and has worked as a project manager and consultant in projects on energy and climate policy issues funded by the World Bank, the European Commission and the German Development Agency.
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