POPULISM AS ORIENTATION MAJORITIRIAN DEMOCRACY

Populism has emerged in different political regimes in different countries from past to present. For this reason, it is tried to define populism over the general characteristics of these different examples. According to this, the most prominent feature of populism is that it is an ideology based on people. On populism frequently there is an empasis on sovereignity of people. In populism, the real representation of the public’s will is advocated and calls for direct democracy are made. Populism, which can appear in almost every type of political regime, actually reveals the dominance of a populist elite. Populism can be negatively interpreted by many authors as an ideology, political appearance or political movement. According to some authors, populism reminds that there are points that can be criticized in the representative democracy or in the representation of the people. From this point positive sides of populism should be focused on. It can be said that populism which advocates more powerful representation of common person, raises political participation.With this aspect populism contribute to democracy. In this study,especially whether populism threats democracy and fundamental rights and freedoms is the point overemphasized. Populism reveals unity through gather people who have similar thoughts and believes. From this point whether populism threats pluralistic democratic understanding that permit represantation of diversity, has become an issue which should being discussed. In this frame although it cannot be said that populism is synonym for pluralistic democracy, it can be mentioned that populism reveals pluralistic and representative democracy through majoritarian democracy. Although the existence of a populist movement does not require certain conditions, it can be claimed that populism exists as long as democracy exists. Because populism is relevant with representation of people. Therefore, it can be said that populism is a concept that does not lose its current status. In this study, it is effective that populism is a borderless and time-free concept in the selection of the subject. Populism and populist movements will be issues that are being discuss at in the future