Section Article

Populism and the Crisis of Liberal Democracy in the 21st Century
Author(s): Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty

Abstract
The twenty-first century has witnessed a profound transformation in global political dynamics marked by the resurgence of populist movements across both established and emerging democracies. This research paper examines the relationship between populism and the contemporary crisis of liberal democracy arguing that populism is both a symptom and a catalyst of structural weaknesses within liberal democratic systems. Liberal democracy traditionally characterized by constitutionalism rule of law separation of powers protection of minority rights and representative institutions is increasingly challenged by leaders and movements claiming to represent the “true will of the people” against perceived corrupt elites. The rise of populism in diverse contexts such as the United States Europe Latin America and parts of Asia demonstrates that this phenomenon is not geographically confined but embedded in broader processes including economic globalization technological change social inequality identity politics migration pressures and declining trust in institutions. This study situates populism within theoretical debates that conceptualize it as ideology political strategy discourse or style and evaluates how these interpretations help explain its antagonistic relationship with liberal democratic norms. By examining patterns of democratic backsliding erosion of institutional checks and balances politicization of the judiciary attacks on media freedom and majoritarian reinterpretations of sovereignty the paper argues that contemporary populism often redefines democracy in illiberal terms. At the same time the paper acknowledges that populism can expose genuine deficits in representation accountability and social justice within liberal democracies. Through a comparative and analytical framework this research aims to explore whether populism represents a temporary corrective force within democratic politics or a long-term threat to constitutional liberalism. Ultimately the study contends that the crisis of liberal democracy cannot be understood solely as a consequence of populist mobilization rather it reflects deeper structural transformations in political economy communication systems and social cohesion that have altered the foundations of democratic governance in the twenty-first century.