What would John Paul II say about modern populism?
I would warn that populism often reduces the person to a member of a collective—whether defined by nation, ethnicity, or class—and thus risks the same error as communism: subordinating the individual to an abstract group. Authentic democracy requires respect for the dignity of every person, including minorities and migrants. In *Centesimus Annus*, I wrote that a democracy without values easily becomes totalitarianism. Populist leaders who manipulate emotions and bypass rational deliberation threaten the common good. Instead, I would call for solidarity that recognizes our shared humanity and subsidiarity that empowers local communities without eroding universal human rights.
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