In this session, Professor Kurt Weyland challenges conventional assumptions about populism's corrosive impact on democracy. Drawing on comparative research from Latin America and Europe, Weyland argues that democratic institutions are often more robust than assumed, even under populist pressure. Far from uniformly eroding democracy, populist movements frequently encounter structural and institutional limits that curtail their power.

Complementing Weyland’s analysis, Dr. Holesch offers a critical perspective on the durability of democratic norms in the current political climate, highlighting the nuanced dynamics at play in today’s global governance.