populism

The article examines problems of populism in the context of public administration in Belarus. It should be noted that populism remains a topical phenomenon of social and political life of many countries. It is also observed that while populism makes a significant impact on policies of the countries with relatively little experience in functioning of democratic institutions, it also manifests itself quite visibly in the modern political space of ‘old’ democracies.

The article analyzes the main factors influencing populism on public administration in the historical aspect. It has been proved, as experience shows, that populism has always occupied a special place in the implementation of programs of political leaders and parties and their interrelation with public administration. Populism remains an actual phenomenon of socio-political life in many countries of the world.

Problem setting. The article deals with the problems of populism in the context of ideology: conservatism and liberalism. The growth of populism comes after the destruction of the liberal consensus, which began after the Cold War, with increasing tension between democratic majority and liberal constitutionalism – the two main pillars of democratic regimes. Strengthening the role of populism shows the gradual loss of the attractiveness of liberal solutions in the field of politics, economy and culture, and ideology.

Problem setting. The flourishing of populism in recent years is caused, in our opinion, by an important factor – the current political bankruptcy of the Ukrainian left forces related, some way or another, to the Soviet past. Under the conditions of the authority concentration in the hands of the centrists and right centrists, the public request for social justice and more equal access of the citizens to the basic social benefits has lost common in the previous decades mechanisms of political representation.