Populism and democratic decline: Modi and Trump in comparative perspective

Abstract

The given article provides a comparative research of two iconic examples Donald Trump in the United States and Narendra Modi in India that discusses the matter of democratic regression in both instances as being caused due to the populist style of leadership adopted by these leaders. In equally recent development, with Trump likely to be reelected in 2024 (Trump 2.0) and backsliding in executive overreach and Modi in India winning a third term in 2024 in the backlash of more Hindu nationalist rhetoric and centralization of institutions, this paper assesses the erosion of democratic traditions by both leaders as well as the breaching of checks and balances, and fostering of illiberal political cultures. The policies of a second term proposed by Trump, namely, repetitive assaults on the media, anti-immigration laws, and amplified protectionism in trade, are contrasted to those of Modi, who is targeting criticism, undermining the Indian judicial system, and increasing the limits on the civil society. The article ends by considering that the similarity of their populist agenda points to a larger international development of illiberal democracy that is raising alarming issues to constitutionalism, plurality, and international instruments of democratic conduct.