Populism in Power
Public Lecture
Sep 25, 2025 — 5 p.m. to 6 p.m.
The Centre on Governance, the Konrad Adenauer Research Chair in Empirical Democracy Studies, and the Jean Monnet Centre of Excellence invite you to a public lecture by Professor Paul Taggart (University of Sussex) on Populism in Power. The talk explores how populists govern once in office, focusing on three strategies: moderation, institutional reshaping, and perpetual campaigning.
About the Event:
What happens when populists transition from opposition to governance?
This lecture explores the global experiences of populist governments and introduces a typology of strategies they adopt once in office. Paul Taggart identifies three distinct approaches:
- Moderation or abandonment of populist rhetoric
- Institutional reshaping to consolidate power
- Perpetual campaigning while in office
Drawing on recent international case studies, the talk examines how populists navigate the paradox of becoming the very establishment they once opposed.
Paul Taggart
Invited Speaker
Professor of Politics at the University of Sussex