Ep. 8 - The Age of Ju-Jitsu Politics, with Catherine Fieschi

Catherine Fieschi has spent years studying one of the defining political forces of our time: populism. Founder of Counterpoint, visiting scholar at Carnegie Europe, and fellow at the Robert Schuman Centre for Advanced Studies, she is among the sharpest observers of how democracies are challenged from within.

In this episode, we explore why populism should not be dismissed as anger, protest, or political style, but understood as a serious ideology built around majoritarianism, anti-elitism, and distrust of institutions. From the judiciary to the press, from elections to parliaments, Fieschi explains how populists reshape democratic systems while claiming to speak directly for "the people."

At the centre of the conversation is what she calls "ju-jitsu politics": populists win because they turn democratic tools against democracy itself. They use freedom of the press and social media to sell compelling stories — and that is what we ought to learn to do too.

The deeper challenge is a cultural one. And we can save democracy even by joining a choir.

With reason, not rage.

In this episode:

Why populism is an ideology, not just a style

The populist playbook and ju-jitsu politics

Why populists tell better stories

The limits of popular sovereignty

What citizens — not just "the people" — can do

Timestamps

1:15 Watch the French elections in 2027

2:45 Populism is an ideology, so take it seriously

5:45 Illiberal populists are nostalgic

8:00 The three steps in the populist playbook

9:50 What is ju-jitsu politics

12:15 The Parliament is not a TV show

15:45 The populists tell good stories

17:20 Mamdani's authenticity took it all

18:50 The limits of popular sovereignty

23:10 We are citizens, not just people

26:00 What is the way of life you really want?

29:30 The Netherlands as a laboratory

35:45 Populism is a self-fulfilling prophecy

38:00 The Conte 1 Government

41:00 Meloni has delivered nothing beyond stability

43:55 Trump is the ju-jitsu champion

47:00 "They stole my election"

49:20 Use your social media as a citizen

51:15 Build ties with those who are different from you / Join that choir!

Author and host: Ivan Scalfarotto

Editor and social media: Ludovica Taurisano

Graphic designer: Paola De Bartolo

Visual identity: Martina Santurri

Sound designer: Enrico Cabua

Tämä jakso on lisätty Podme-palveluun avoimen RSS-syötteen kautta eikä se ole Podmen omaa tuotantoa. Siksi jakso saattaa sisältää mainontaa.

Jaksot(13)

Ep. 12 - Like Frogs in Boiling Water, with Dragana Djurica

We are now moving from Budapest to Serbia, where I am joined by Dragana Djurica — Secretary General of the European Movement in Serbia, who also sits on the board of the European Movement Internationa...

4 Heinä 52min

Ep. 11 - They Made an Enemy of Me, with Maria Mikaelyan

It is time for Budapest to move to Russia, with Maria Mikaelyan — architect, activist, and co-founder of the Community of Free Russians in Italy, and one of the voices challenging Vladimir Putin's reg...

22 Kesä 59min

Ep. 10 - Is Paris burning?, with Sandro Gozi

For this episode of Budapest, I am joined by Sandro Gozi, Member of the European Parliament for Renew Europe, Secretary General of the European Democratic Party, and President of the Union of European...

6 Kesä 50min

Ep. 9 - There Is Always Someone to Your Right, with Cas Mudde

For this episode of Budapest, I am joined by Cas Mudde — distinguished research professor at the University of Georgia and one of the world's foremost scholars of the far right and populism, whose wor...

23 Touko 1h 3min

Ep. 7 - The true cost of Brexit, with Greg Hands

Greg Hands has been involved in British politics and public life for over 30 years. He served as Member of Parliament for Chelsea and Fulham from 2005 to 2024 and held several key government roles, in...

25 Huhti 54min

Ep. 6 - Democracy Is a System Not a Person, with Thomas Carothers

For the sixth episode of Budapest, I was joined by Thomas Carothers — senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, and one of the world's leading scholars of democratic backsliding...

11 Huhti 43min

Ep. 5 - Politics Is Emotion Not Just Fact, with Catherine De Vries

Catherine De Vries is Vice Dean and Professor of Political Science at IE University, where she specialises in far-right politics, populism, and European public opinion.De Vries brings a scholar's rigo...

28 Maalis 47min