The years 2022 through 2025 continued and accelerated a trend that had been building for years: the global rise of populist political movements on both left and right, challenging establishment parties and reshaping the political landscape across democracies.
In Italy, Giorgia Meloni became the country's first female prime minister, leading a right-wing coalition. In Argentina, libertarian economist Javier Milei won the presidency in a landslide. In France, Marine Le Pen's National Rally party made historic gains in parliamentary elections. In the Netherlands, anti-immigration politician Geert Wilders won the largest vote share in a general election.
The Common Thread
Different causes, different cultures, different political traditions — but a consistent pattern: voters who felt left behind by globalization, immigration, and economic change turning toward candidates who promised radical change and explicitly challenged established elites.
What It Means
Political scientists debate the causes and implications. But the pattern is undeniable: across the democratic world, the center is under pressure. The question of what democracies do with that pressure defines our era.