Adam Michnik on populism within democracies

In a commentary, Adam Michnik notes that in one respect the brothers Lech and Jaroslaw Kaczyński were surprisingly successful: populism will remain strong in Poland. "Populism stands in sharp contrast to parliamentary democracy; it derides pluralism and minority rights. Initially, it expresses an aversion to the conservative democracy of the elite and a commitment to 'true democracy', under which the country can be 'ruled by a cook'. Then it establishes a state controlled by a leader and in which the people are controlled by someone who possesses the competence of a cook. So why does democracy allow populists to win democratic elections? Because democrats know that democracy implies a contradiction: democracy resolutely tolerates its opponents until they resort to violence. ... One can put it this way: God gives us a chance with democracy."

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