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Populism
Understanding Populism vs. Authoritarianism: Why the Distinction Matters

Premiere of The Populism Spectrum. Is Donald Trump a Dictator?
Sven Gerst in The Populist Playbook Series
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In today’s political landscape, terms like “dictator” and “autocrat” are often thrown around, especially in reference to figures like Donald Trump, Viktor Orbán, or Giorgia Meloni. But is it accurate to label them all as authoritarians? The answer lies in understanding the nuances between populism and true authoritarianism—a difference that may surprise you.

Watch now the first episode “The Populism Spectrum. Is Donald Trump a Dictator?” from our new explainer series “Up! for democracy. The Populist Playbook by Sven Gerst”.

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As Sven Gerst points out in the video, “Putting Trump in the same basket as Vladimir Putin or Nicolás Maduro seems kind of wrong.” While Trump may employ populist rhetoric, that doesn’t necessarily make him an authoritarian. The video offers a framework to help place leaders on a spectrum, from “hard-core authoritarianism” to “vanilla populism.”

A line separates populists from authoritarians. Cross that line, and you become an authoritarian or dictator. Stay on this side, and you are just a populist. There are the two ends of the spectrum: hard-core authoritarianism or totalitarianism versus mild populism. Now, let’s place some other figures on this spectrum.

Sven Gerst in The Populist Playbook Series
Sven Gerst

One key difference is in the methods leaders use to gain and maintain power. True authoritarians, such as Putin, rely on violence and coercion to stifle opposition, leaving little room for dissent or debate. In contrast, populist leaders often gain legitimacy through democratic elections and face real opposition—at least, initially.

Understanding these distinctions is not just theoretical. “The way you fight a dictator is different from the way you fight a populist,” explains Sven Gerst. When populist leaders are grouped with dictators, it distorts strategies to counter them. Knowing where a leader stands on this spectrum can help citizens and policymakers choose effective responses.

Using the term “autocrat” too loosely blurs this distinction. Fighting a populist differs from fighting an authoritarian, and each requires different strategies. Being clear about these concepts helps us understand how to engage with and oppose them effectively.

Sven Gerst in The Populist Playbook Series
Sven Gerst

For a deeper dive into where figures like Trump, Orbán, and Bukele might fall, and how that impacts democratic freedoms, watch the full video. Discover why understanding the fine line between populism and authoritarianism is more critical than ever.

Up! for democracy. The Populist Playbook by Sven Gerst

What are the steps that help populists come to power? Is Donald Trump a dictator? What differentiates authoritarians and dictators from populists? Should liberals become populists or popular?

Discover more in the Populist Playbook Explainer Series with Sven Gerst, a political philosopher, liberal thought leader and an experienced facilitator. He spends a lot of his time at the International Academy of Leadership (IAF) of the Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom. He is the former Secretary General of the International Federation of Liberal Youth. During his work in international politics, Sven has worked with more than 50 political parties, NGOs, and think tanks from all over the world on strategic communication and capacity building. He holds a M.Sc. in Philosophy from the London School of Economics and Political Science as well as a M.Sc. in Management from the University of Mannheim. Previously, he also studied and worked at Harvard University, Duke University, St. Petersburg State University, and National Taiwan University.

Watch here all episodes of Populist Playbook Explainer Series. 

The Series is part of FNF’s new global campaign UP! for democracy. Democracy is not an abstract concept. It is something you could act on every day. All great movements started with people like you. So team up with people who believe in the same idea of standing up for democracy. Because democracy is for you. It’s about you. It always was and will be you. What is your next move? Together we want to shape a world in which free democracies can flourish! #up4democracy

Discover more about UP! for democracy Campaign around the globe. 

Watch the Vision of UP! for democracy

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