Populism

Populism undermines the inclusive nature of the social contract by presenting 'the people' as a unitary and exclusionary group, marginalising those who are not seen as part of it. This distortion of constitutional principles is often used to weaponise legal systems, as seen in certain domestic laws across Europe.

In addition, populist movements often target the EU itself, portraying it as both a threat to national traditions and a neoliberal force that threatens national solidarity. This opposition to the EU disrupts perceptions of the Union's mission and weakens the social contract between citizens and their institutions.

Analysing the impact of populism

EXPRESS² will examine these two key dynamics of populism:

1. Redefining 'the people' - How populism manipulates the concept of 'the people' to exclude minorities and undermine constitutional safeguards.
2. Targeting the EU - How populist rhetoric frames the EU as a threat to national sovereignty and values.

Using qualitative research methods, the project will combine academic literature, legal documents, media analysis and EU reports to explore how populism challenges the EU social contract. We will use thematic and discourse analysis techniques, as well as constitutional theory and comparative perspectives, to understand how populism exploits identity politics and majority rule to challenge and delegitimise the social contract.

By analysing the disruptive effects of populism on both national and EU institutions, we aim to provide recommendations for safeguarding the social contract and ensuring that the EU continues to uphold democratic values, inclusivity and solidarity across its member states.