Populism is more than a political buzzword – it is a topic of highest sociopolitical relevance as it will form our society for years to come. Europe’s radical right parties are using anti-immigrant and anti-establishment messages to claim to represent the „will of the people“; these messages are resurging in the US, Australia, Israel, Japan, and in other countries around the world. On the other side of the political spectrum, left-wing populists are following their own agenda – such as the Podemos movement in Spain or the left-wing populist governments in Latin American countries such as Venezuela, Ecuador, and Bolivia. But what is populism, what are the challenges and how does it threaten democracy and liberty? To understand this multifaceted phenomenon, we need to dig deeper. Can we explain today’s rise of populism with economic grievances or does it have its roots in a cultural backlash against liberalism and immigration? What are the economic consequences of populism: progress, stagnation, or regression? How should we act on the challenges related to the rise of populism? These questions take center stage at this year’s forum, where leading scholars and politicians will discuss new insights on how to deal with this multidimensional phenomenon. www.ubscenter.uzh.ch/en/news_events/events/2019-11…