National-populism challenges Western liberal democracies

The rise of national-populism in the West is being analyzed as a significant challenge to liberal democracy. In the book ‘Democracias estresadas’ (Akal, 2026), Jesús Casquete examines how authoritarian populism capitalizes on globalization fears, loss of sovereignty, and identity concerns. The work highlights how figures such as Donald Trump and Santiago Abascal utilize promises of immediate solutions to attract youth disillusioned with current institutions.

Parallel discussions suggest that liberal democracy faces a critical crossroads: it may either be replaced by anti-political, illiberal populism or undergo a necessary rescue and reform. This tension is exemplified by the emergence of new political movements, such as Miriam González’s centrist party, Democracia 21. The current climate of public discontent, driven by perceived government incompetence and corruption, mirrors historical patterns seen in Europe during the interwar period.