Greece finally seemed to be on the path to stability.

1970 年代中期，

With the introduction of a new constitution

希臘在數十年的政治混亂之後，

and negotiations underway to enter European institutions,

似乎終於朝著穩定邁進。

many analysts expected Greek politics

隨著新憲法推出，

to follow the pattern of the larger Western world.

以及加入歐洲制度的 相關協商都在進行中，

Then in 1981, a political party called PASOK came to power.

許多分析家預期希臘政治

Its charismatic leader Andreas Papandreou railed against the new constitution,

會遵循廣大的西方世界模式。

and accused those in power of “national betrayal.”

接著，1981 年，

Opposing Greece's membership in NATO and the European Economic Community,

一個叫做 PASOK 的政黨上台。

Papandreou promised to govern for the betterment of the “common people"

該黨派的迷人領袖 安德烈亞斯帕潘德里歐

above all else.

對新憲法有所抱怨，

He famously declared, “there are no institutions, only the people exist.”

並指控掌權的那些人「賣國」。

Papandreou's rise to power isn't a unique story.

帕潘德里歐反對希臘參加

In many democratic countries around the world,

北大西洋公約組織 及歐洲經濟共同體，

charismatic leaders vilify political opponents,

他保證他的治國方式會把改善

disparage institutions, and claim the mantle of the people.

「一般人」生活放在第一優先。

Some critics label this approach as authoritarian or fascist,

他很有名的宣言是：

and many argue that these leaders are using emotions

「沒有制度，只有人民存在。」

to manipulate and deceive voters.

帕潘德里歐崛起 掌權的故事並非獨一無二。

But whether or not this style of politics is ethical, it's certainly democratic,

在全世界許多民主國家中，

and it goes by the name of populism.

有魅力的領導者 會誹謗政治對手、貶低制度，

The term populism has been around since Ancient Rome,

宣稱以人民為名。

and has its roots in the Latin word “populus” meaning “the people."

有些評論家把這種做法貼上 專制主義或法西斯主義的標籤，

But since then populism has been used to describe dozens of political movements,

許多人主張這些領導人

often with counterintuitive and sometimes contradictory goals.

利用情緒來操弄和欺騙選民。

Populist movements have rebelled against monarchies, monopolies,

但不論這種政治風格是否合倫理，

and a wide variety of powerful institutions.

肯定是民主的，

It's not possible to cover the full history of this term here.

稱為「民粹主義」。

Instead, we're focusing on one specific type of populism—

打從古羅馬時期 就有民粹主義這個詞了，

the kind that describes Papandreou's administration

它的字根是拉丁字「populus」， 意思是「人民」。

and numerous other governments over the last 70 years: modern populism.

但從那之後，民粹主義 就被拿來描述數十個政治運動，

But to understand how political theorists define this phenomenon

通常其目標違背常識， 有時還有矛盾的目標。

we first need to explore what it's responding to.

民粹主義運動曾經 抵抗過君主政治、壟斷，

In the aftermath of World War Two,

以及很多種強大的制度。

many countries wanted to move away from totalitarian ideologies.

不可能在這裡談完 這個詞的整個歷史。

They sought a new political system

因此我們只把焦點放在 一種特定的民粹主義——

that prioritized individual and social rights,

它被用來描述帕潘德里歐的政府

aimed at political consensus, and respected the rule of law.

以及過去七十年間數個其他政府：

As a result, most Western nations adopted a longstanding form of government

「現代民粹主義」。

called liberal democracy.

但若要了解政治理論家 如何定義這種現象，

In this context, “liberal” doesn't refer to any political party,

我們首先得要探究它因何而生。

but rather a type of democracy that has three essential components.

第二次世界大戰後，

First, liberal democracies accept that society

許多國家想要遠離 極權主義的意識型態。

is full of many, often crosscutting divisions that generate conflict.

它們想找的新政治體系，

Second, it requires that society's many factions

要能重視個人和社會權，

seek common ground across those divisions.

把目標放在政治共識， 並且能夠尊重法律規定。

Finally, liberal democracies rely on the rule of law

因此，大部分的西方國家採用了

and the protection of minority rights,

一種歷史悠久的政府形式， 叫做「自由民主制」。

as specified in constitutions and legal statutes.

用在這裡時，「自由」 並非意指任何政治黨派，

Taken together, these ideals propose

而是一種民主類型， 具有三個重要元素。

that tolerance and institutions that protect us from intolerance,

第一，自由民主制接受社會

are the bedrock of a functional and diverse democratic society.

充滿許多產生衝突、相互交錯的分歧。

Liberal democracies helped bring stability to the nations that adopted them.

第二，自由民主制需要 社會中的許多派別

But like any system of government, they didn't solve everything.

跨越分歧，尋求共同點。

Among other issues, an ever-increasing wealth gap

最後，自由民主制仰賴法律規定，

led to underserved communities

保護少數族群的權利，

who distrusted both their wealthy neighbors and their political leaders.

正如憲法和法律所明文規定的。

In some cases, political corruption further damaged the public's trust.

綜上所述，

Growing suspicion and resentment around these politicians

這些理想倡議

primed citizens to look for a new kind of leader

寬容和保護我們免受不容忍的制度

who would challenge established institutions

是功能多樣的民主社會的基石。

and put the needs of the people first.

採用自由民主制的國家會更穩定。

In many ways, this reaction highlights democracy in action:

但就像任何政府體制一樣，

if the majority of a population feels their interests are underrepresented,

它們無法解決所有的問題。

they can elect leaders to change that using existing democratic systems.

其中一個問題是貧富差距不斷擴大，

But this is where assertive, modern populist candidates can subvert democracy.

導致欠缺社會服務的族群

Modern populists identify themselves as embodying the "will of the people,"

不信任其富裕的鄰居和政治領袖。

and they place those interests

在某些情況下，

above the institutions that protect individual and social rights.

政治腐敗進一步破壞大眾的信任。

Modern populists argue these institutions

公民對這些政客越來越懷疑、反感，

are run by a self-serving ruling minority,

使得他們會想要找 一種新型的領導人，

who seek to control the vast majority of virtuous common people.

能挑戰既有的制度，

As a result, politics is no longer about seeking compromise and consensus

並將人民的需求擺在第一。

through tolerant democratic institutions.

這種反應在許多層面上 強調民主的運作：

Instead, these leaders seek to overturn what they see as a broken system.

如果大部分的人民 覺得利益沒被充分代表，

This means that where a liberal democracy has the utmost respect for institutions

就會用既有的民主體制 選出能改變現狀的領導者。

like courtrooms, free press, and national constitutions,

但自信的現代民粹主義候選人 正可以在這種情況下顛覆民主。

modern populists disparage any establishment that disagrees

現代民粹主義者自認是在

with the so-called “common will."

實現「人民的旨意」，

Modern populist parties have arisen in many places,

他們會把那些利益置於

but the leaders of these movements are remarkably similar.

保護個人及社會權的制度之上。

They're often charismatic individuals

現代民粹主義者主張

who identify themselves as embodying the “will of the people."

這些制度被自利的少數所主導，

They make exorbitant promises to their supporters,

那些人想要控制 佔絕大多數的善良百姓。

while casting their opponents as traitors actively undermining the country.

因此，政治不再

But whether these politicians are sincere believers or manipulative opportunists,

透過包容的民主制度 來尋求妥協和共識了。

the dynamics they unleash

反而是這些領導者追求推翻 他們認定的崩壞體制。

can be profoundly destabilizing for liberal democracy.

那就表示，當自由民主制

Even when modern populist leaders don't follow through

非常尊重法庭、新聞自由 和國家憲法等制度時，

with their most extreme promises,

現代民粹主義者就會用 所謂的「共同意志」

their impact on political discourse, the rule of law, and public trust

來貶低所有與他們不同的聲音。

can long outlast their time in office.

現代民粹主義的黨派 已經在許多地方興起，