The rise of populism in Europe through the cases of Hungary and Spain

This thesis has been presented with the aim of understanding and interpreting the phenomenon of rising populism in Europe. This thesis examines the phenomenon of populism, which has right-wing examples in countries such as Hungary, France, and Poland, and left-wing examples in countries such as Spain, Greece, and Venezuela. It delves into the details of populism, which is open to in-depth and comprehensive academic research, and presents an impact analysis from historical, contemporary, and future perspectives. Although there are different definitions of populism in the literature, there is still no clear consensus on its definition. While this study includes different definitions and approaches to populism, it focuses primarily on the idealist theory of Cas Mudde and Cristobal Rovira Kaltwasser. The concept of populism is examined from sociological, political, and economic perspectives, with the primary aim of addressing all dimensions of the issue. The examples of the Hungarian Civic Alliance (FIDESZ) in Hungary and the We Can Party (PODEMOS) in Spain have been examined, and right-wing and left-wing populism have been subjected to comparative evaluation. As a result of all these comparisons, FIDESZ in Hungary, an example of right-wing populism, was found to be a typical example of right-wing populism, containing elements such as xenophobia, othering, polarization, and anti-immigration sentiment. while Spain's PODEMOS, an example of left-wing populism, represents an important example of left-wing populism and is one of the key representatives of the "new left" movement. It has been determined that PODEMOS takes a positive stance towards foreign elements in its country, establishes an inclusive understanding, and is based on agonistic pluralism. In conclusion, the concept of populism has been explained from a holistic perspective by examining the similarities and differences between right-wing and left-wing populism. The reflections of right-wing and left-wing populism in various European countries, primarily Hungary and Spain, have been discussed, and contributions have been made to the literature by highlighting various aspects of the concept of populism. Key Words: Populism, Right-wing Populism, Left-wing Populism, Hungary, Spain