Patricia Rehus
About
My research project
Citizens` perspectives: The link between democracy, populism, and liberalismMost countries in the world today are democracies. Yet, despite the prevalence of democracy and the central role that citizens play in it, we lack a comprehensive understanding of what democracy means to citizens. Given that liberal democracy has become the norm in the West, do citizens in these societies also understand democracy in liberal terms? In broader terms, what do citizens think of when they say they support democracy? Particularly in light of the recent wave of populism sweeping across the world, it is important to understand what notions of democracy citizens hold and how these notions relate to populism. With that in mind, my question is, do populist citizens have an understanding of democracy that differs from less populist citizens? And, perhaps even more importantly, is the spread of populism among citizens a threat to liberal democracy? My research answers these questions and many more to create a comprehensive profile of citizens` democratic preferences and further our understanding of the type of democracy that (populist) citizens want.
Supervisors
Most countries in the world today are democracies. Yet, despite the prevalence of democracy and the central role that citizens play in it, we lack a comprehensive understanding of what democracy means to citizens. Given that liberal democracy has become the norm in the West, do citizens in these societies also understand democracy in liberal terms? In broader terms, what do citizens think of when they say they support democracy? Particularly in light of the recent wave of populism sweeping across the world, it is important to understand what notions of democracy citizens hold and how these notions relate to populism. With that in mind, my question is, do populist citizens have an understanding of democracy that differs from less populist citizens? And, perhaps even more importantly, is the spread of populism among citizens a threat to liberal democracy? My research answers these questions and many more to create a comprehensive profile of citizens` democratic preferences and further our understanding of the type of democracy that (populist) citizens want.