Populism is not a passing shock but a durable mode of democratic politics in which mainstream incumbents and populist challengers routinely flip roles between governing and insurgency. Policymakers and parties should design institutions and campaigns to manage recurring populist surges rather than expect one‑time decisive victories.
— If true, this reframes strategy: parties should prioritize institutional resilience and norm maintenance over scorched‑earth electoral tactics, changing how democracies regulate courts, civil service, and electoral rules.
Damon Linker cites Viktor Orbán’s long rule and recent defeat and lists countries (Hungary, Poland, Brazil, the U.S., etc.) to show recurring wins and losses by right‑populists, exemplifying the oscillation.