European social scientists should seek to critically engage with populism rather than simply attacking or idealising it.

Since the beginning of the Eurozone crisis, a number of populist movements have gained support in European countries. Giorgos Katsambekis and Yannis Stavrakakis assess the nature of populism, arguing that the dichotomy between a ‘moderate centre’ and ‘dangerous’ populist movements in countries like Greece does not stand up to scrutiny. They write that the austerity policies pursued by mainstream parties can also be seen as extreme in their own right, and that populist movements are so varied that they cannot feasibly be grouped under the same label. Ultimately it would be more beneficial to critically engage with populism, rather than dismissing or promoting it.

ESO: Background information: Is the euro crisis responsible for populism? http://www.europeansources.info/record/is-the-euro-crisis-responsible-for-populism/

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