Populism, Risk and Business: Present and Future Prospects

This chapter discusses the main findings of the volume and their implications for understanding the relationship between populism and business in comparative perspective. It analyses the main risks that populism poses to business by distinguishing between the risks associated with populism as a political style, the impact of populism on electoral politics, and political systems and the associated policy risks. By building on the framework developed in Chapter 1, this chapter discusses the most common business responses to these challenges, whilst highlighting the ambivalence many businesses feel about populism given the contradictory elements of the populist agenda and the complex strategic considerations surrounding the choice of the most appropriate response. This chapter also reflects on the broader significance of the populist turn, including its likely durability and its long-term impact on business, especially in the face challenges surrounding economic management, political legitimacy, and various contingent events.