Populist attitudes are complex and non-compensatory, meaning high scores in one dimension cannot be offset by low scores in others. This unique structure is often overlooked in political science research despite its prominence in debates about liberal democracy.

Defining Populism Fairly

Unlike simpler public opinion constructs, populist attitudes form an attitudinal syndrome with distinct subdimensions that must all coexist for the concept to hold. The article argues this non-compensatory characteristic is crucial but rarely considered.

What's Wrong With How We've Measured It Before?

Existing studies often use measurement approaches inconsistent with this conceptual framework, leading to misleading results across five populism scales in twelve countries.

Better Measurement Leads To Different Findings

By proposing conceptually sound operationalization strategies that properly account for non-compensatory dimensions, the authors show how more accurate measurements can dramatically change our understanding of populist attitudes' political impact.