Can you help shape our future priorities? Take a five minute survey now. Survey closes on 8 July.

News

Authoritarian populism is on the rise, claiming support from rural areas.

Published on 18 September 2018

A new resource hosted by OpenDemocracy explores how authoritarian populism has taken hold, and how rural people are responding to it. A series of videos and articles features perspectives from scholars and activists from around the world.

Authoritarian populism. Illustration: Boy Dominguez

A new resource hosted by OpenDemocracy explores how authoritarian populism has taken hold, and how rural people are responding to it. A series of videos and articles features perspectives from scholars and activists from around the world.

Rural people are sometimes stereotyped as supporters of populist and exclusionary regimes. But there are many people and movements in rural spaces that are resisting or responding to regressive, authoritarian politics.

The videos and articles have been brought together on a special page on the OpenDemocracy website.

Visit the page:

https://www.opendemocracy.net/authoritarian-populism-rural-world

Video

These short video interviews with scholars and activists cover authoritarianism and resistance from a variety of settings, including in India, South Africa, Myanmar, the USA, and across national borders. Interviewees include Achin Vanaik, Constance Mogale, John Gaventa, Khin Zaw Win, Raj Patel, Ruth Nyambura, Stha Yeni, Zack Exley and Sofia Monsalve.

Watch the trailer:

https://www.facebook.com/openDemocracy/videos/975798742603589/

Articles

The articles include perspectives from Turkey, the USA, Guatemala, Russia, the UK, Colombia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Brazil, Syria, Cambodia and India.

There is also an introductory article which sets out the context, ideas and rationale behind the series.

The series was convened by the Emancipatory Rural Politics Initiative (ERPI), which ran a conference on ‘Authoritarian Populism and the Rural World’ in March 2018.

Browse the list of articles and video here:

https://www.opendemocracy.net/authoritarian-populism-rural-world

Share

Related content

Opinion

The power of communities during civic space closure in Central America

Rocío Elizabeth Ramírez Argueta, Oficial de programas y proyectos, COMCAVIS TRANS

& 3 others

24 June 2025

Opinion

El poder de las comunidades frente al cierre del espacio cívico en Centroamérica

Rocío Elizabeth Ramírez Argueta, Oficial de programas y proyectos, COMCAVIS TRANS

& 3 others

24 June 2025

Opinion

Shaping the future of AI: The role of non-binding agreements

23 June 2025

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.