Populism as a Conceptual Problem: Disciplinary Differentiation, Specialization, and the Complex Approach

Populism is a global phenomenon that has been widely debated in academia (particularly in political science), the media, and politics for decades. This has led to many different definitions which exclude or include different forms, and focus on different aspects. This article discusses and systematizes these different approaches and explains them based on their core logics and empirical support. Their differences are rooted in their disciplinary differentiation and specialization. This process is absolutely necessary to conduct research in modern and complex societies, but it can make grasping complex problems difficult. Especially, if the ontological and epistemological assumptions are not properly supported and classified, this will lead to a cacophony of definitions. To overcome this problem, a new epistemological approach is needed, one that is capable of integrating the different empirically supported perspectives. The paper will point out that embracing the complexity of society is fruitful and necessary as it allows for a new understanding of the phenomenon by integrating the current research into one common framework, based on the concept of cultural complexus. In this approach, populism is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon—thus, the complex approach—with multiple variants that has a set of necessary and sufficient dimensions that identify it and that can be observed empirically.