The Perilous Mix of Populism and Pandemics: Lessons from COVID-19

Populist leaders have consistently rejected evidence-based policies in responding to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. They acted later and with less intensity than non-populists implementing public health measures such as physical distancing, lockdowns, developing data sets. We describe responses of ten large countries populist leadership at onset pandemic (Brazil, Hungary, India, Mexico, Philippines, Poland, Russia, Turkey, United Kingdom, States). Together, these account for a disproportionately number cases deaths associated relative their population. categorize policy into two types: (1) slow ineffective, (2) strict illiberal. conclude that while not all responded poorly were led by populists, no performed well either applying or achieving desirable outcomes.