Populism: political & economic trends worldwide

From Latin America to Europe, South Asia to the United States, populism has reshaped political landscapes and challenged long-standing economic orthodoxies. Populist leaders and movements have surged by claiming to represent ‘the people’ against ‘the elite’, often successfully mobilising voters disillusioned with traditional parties, globalisation, and widening inequality.

What explains the global rise of populism? How have economic shocks, cultural change, and technological transformation fueled populist sentiment? What happens to democratic institutions when populist leaders gain power? And what do recent electoral outcomes suggest where these trends are heading next?

In our first Politics and Practice event of 2026, our all-UCL panel will examine the political and economic drivers of populism, its impact on public policy, and the implications for democracy worldwide.

Dr Elizabeth Ralph-Morrow is a Lecturer (Teaching) at the UCL Department of Political Science and School of Public Policy. (Will email Liz to ask her for a bio as she doesn’t seem to have a UCL Profiles page!)

Dr Tom O’Grady is an Associate Professor of Political Science at UCL and Director of the Department's PhD programme. After having long focused on political economy, political behaviour and public policy in the UK and Europe, O’Grady has more recently started work on punitiveness in public policy and the politics of crime and punishment.

Prof Philippe Marlière is a Professor of French and European Politics at the UCL School of European Languages, Culture and Society. A former Research Fellow at the French Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), Marlière has broad research interests spanning French politics, ranging from the Macron presidency to the social movements, French republicanism, citizenship, religion and Laïcité. He is currently writing a book on the Rassemblement national and the mainstreaming of far-right ideas in France.

Chair: Prof Alan Renwick is a Professor of Democratic Politics in the UCL Department of Political Science, and Deputy Director of the UCL Constitution Unit.

This event will be recorded and the video will be uploaded to our YouTube channel.

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Seats are allocated on a first come, first served basis. We cannot guarantee you a seat, but it is very unusual that we have to turn someone away.

• The corridor outside the lecture theatre(s) is sufficiently wide enough (150cm+) to allow wheelchair users to pass.
• There is step free access into the lecture theatre(s).
• The door opening width(s) is/are 75cm+ for the lecture theatre(s).
• There are designated spaces for wheelchair users within the lecture theatre(s), located at the back.
• There is level access to the designated seating from an entrance.
• There is space for an assistance dog.
• There is a hearing assistance system for the lecture theatre(s).
• There is not a visual fire alarm beacon in the lecture theatre(s).

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