Support for populist politicians has fallen amidst the pandemic.Yet satisfaction with democracy remains very low.
Researchers studied the attitudes of over half a million people in over a hundred countries to find out how COVID19 affected political beliefs. During the pandemic's beginning, many politicians got a boost in support. But as COVID19 continued, approval ratings of populist leaders began dropping and have been sinking ever since. Many populist leaders mishandled the pandemic. People wanted stability. The pandemic also fostered a sense of shared purpose that may have reduced political polarization. Public opinion shifted with more trust in governments and scientists, and less trust in populist leaders.
Yet faith in democratic processes by which people elect their representatives continues to falter. Could the waning support for democracy be tainted by the record of populists in office?
The study also notes that some illiberal attitudes - like banning handshakes and supporting restricting online discussions of the virus - have been increasing.
Original article:
Support for populist politics ‘collapsed’ during the pandemic – global report
Original study: