This Is Not the End: How the Appeal of Populism Changed Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

When the COVID-19 pandemic engulfed the world, the contextual conditions in which the rise of populism took place deeply and rapidly changed. Did this mark a turning point in the trend of populism? In this chapter, we attempt to answer this question mainly based on a longitudinal research program we undertook soon after the pandemic onset (taking advantage of a pre-pandemic wave) to monitor Italian public opinion longitudinally. The pandemic triggered a widespread sense of vulnerability and psychological distress, followed by the need to regain control over one’s life. We documented two ways in which Italians have coped with this and that are linked to the populist trend. On the one hand, citizens relied on institutional authorities involved in crisis management (the typical “rally effect”), and, on the other hand, we observed an enhanced desire for strong leaders who can individuate solutions and effectively enact quick actions. In relation to these trends, our research program documented that the pandemic led to a break in the rise of populist votes in Italy. However, populist orientations remained unchanged. Thus, it is plausible that populism had a temporary halt, but it is likely to rebound to higher levels when the health and economic situations will return to pre-pandemic levels.