"The weakening of class average is the breeding ground for the spread of populism. The worsening of their living conditions - unemployment, decrease in income - makes them more permeable to a message that blames others for the status". This was stated at the University of Navarra by the economist Javier Santacruz, professor at high school of programs of study Bursátiles and partner of the think tank Civismo.

Santacruz has intervened in a workshop of the Institute for Culture and Society (ICS) that addressed the speech of populist parties across the political spectrum in Spain, Germany, England, France, Belgium and Denmark. The activity is part of the project 'The demos in the imaginary of the new politics: the discussion on the will of Public discourse in Europe', belonging to the line 'Public discourse' and subsidized by the Ministry of Economics and Competitiveness.

The specialist warned that "the rise of populism is slowing down the way out of the crisis". "Economies can generate growth and employment -he added-. Populism hinders this dynamic because it introduces elements that slow down the recovery: it raises taxes, shoots up expense, multiplies regulation...", he explained.

From agreement with him, the economic recovery is based on just the opposite principles: "Structural reforms, clear and simple regulatory frameworks and reductions in taxes and public finance obligations".

Javier Santacruz also warned about other economic consequences of populism: "It implies international isolation, closing of borders, restrictions to exports and to the commercial exchange of products".

The best defense: rationality and criticism

He also stated that in countries with populist regimes "taxes are raised, expense policies are developed that lead to large budget deficits, debt is generated that leads to accelerated inflation processes and generalized price increases...".

The economist pointed out that the best weapons of defense of civil society against populism are "rationality and criticism" of the proposals. "The impossible things they promise are the infinite generation of jobs work; the infinite expense for health, Education, reducing poverty to zero...; and security (employment, house, child support...) in exchange for freedom", he pointed out.

"This generates a separation of society into two: those who are close to the centers of power, who enjoy all those subsidies and aid, and those who are far from those centers. This is where the largest percentage of the population finds itself, which enters a spiral of poverty from which it is very difficult to escape," he said.

Finally, he mentioned that the rise of populism is behind issues such as Brexit or the victory of Donald Trump in the U.S. "Years ago they would have been unthinkable," he pointed out.

In addition to Javier Santacruz, speakers from seven European universities participated in the ICS workshop. Among them were Benjamin Moffitt, researcher from Stockholm University (Sweden), and Nicolina Montessori, researcher at Utrecht University (The Netherlands).