Scusi Prof, cos'è il populismo

[Autom. eng. transl.] A university student and a helpful professor discuss in a "Socratic dialogue" of populism. The cloisters of Bramate of the Catholic University of Milan are the backdrop for an intense discussion in which etymological, historical, economic, sociological and political arguments alternate. Populism is an elusive theme, a "subtle ideology" that is combined with other "full" ideologies such as socialism, liberalism, nationalism. It has a broad historical and geographical dimension: traces of it can be found in many eras (from Julius Caesar onwards) and at different latitudes (from South America to Europe). He has often verged on totalitarianism and has a conflictual relationship with representative democracies. Populism manifests itself in waves that simultaneously affect different countries. The book talks about the "demand factors" that push people to request protection policies (globalization, inequalities, welfare systems crisis, migration flows), "supply factors" that stimulate the birth of charismatic leaders, movements and populist parties and the crucial role of new social media to understand the current success of populism.