Andreas DĂźr
Trumpâs 2025 tariff shock marks a sharp turn toward a near-isolationist US trade policy. Yet given that US protectionism is expected to ease, Andreas DĂźr and Alessia Invernizzi argue that the international trading system is likely to weather the storm Read more
Selina Mabrouki
Populist leaders donât just claim to represent the people â theyâŻembodyâŻthem. Through strongman toughness or maternal guardianship, populists model idealised versions of a nationâs citizens, and they naturalise exclusion.âŻSelina MabroukiâŻshows how contemporary populist leaders exploit gendered role models as tools of emotional persuasion Read more
Dario Castiglione
In his introductory piece for this series, Luca Verzichelli asked whether we can re-establish a connection between political institutions and citizens. Dario Castiglione suggests we can. But first, we must rethink democratic representation as a process of mutual engagement; then re-imagine its political practices and institutions Read more
Alexandros Ntaflos
Alexandros Ntaflos argues that Trump and Mamdaniâs unexpectedly cordial meeting reflects shared populist appeals to 'the people', and pragmatic calculations of institutional power. But as concrete policies emerge, left-right ideological divisions will reassert themselves. Future conflicts between the two will echo the broader Western shift toward radical politics Read more
Luca Verzichelli
Luca Verzichelli explores the crisis of democratic representation and the shrinking space for citizen-institution engagement. Launching a series on 'democratic disconnect', he calls for a new democratic pedagogy, fresh analytical tools, and innovative solutions to reconnect actors, strengthen institutions, and adapt democracy to twenty first-century challenges â before it's too late Read more
Francesco Vittonetto
Brought together by a shared ideology, converging around global events, and united in their support for radical-right leaders, populist audiences on social media are becoming increasingly global. Francesco Vittonetto discusses why we can now start talking about transnational populist publics Read more
Osman Sabri Kiratli
NATO recently agreed to a historic 5% defence spending target. But Osman Sabri Kiratli presents new experimental evidence revealing that what Americans truly care about goes far beyond the numbers. In fact, democratic allies may have more leeway than they realise Read more
Ilana Hartikainen
Why did Viktor OrbĂĄn bring pickles to Parliament? What made Kamala Harris lean into 'brat summer'? And why do politicians flood social media with pets, food, and everyday objects? Ilana Hartikainen and Zea Szebeni argue these aren't random quirks: they're examples of 'banana populism', where politicians build powerful emotional connections with voters through whimsical, mundane imagery Read more
Š 2026 European Consortium for Political Research. The ECPR is a charitable incorporated organisation (CIO) number 1167403 ECPR, Harbour House, 6-8 Hythe Quay, Colchester, CO2 8JF, United Kingdom.
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