In the 21st century, the populist wave has found renewed momentum, weaponizing rapid advancements in digital communication and social algorithms. It now stands as a defining geopolitical challenge that nations worldwide can no longer afford to ignore. 1. Definition and Meaning: A Chameleon-Like Ideology Within the fields of political science and sociology, the conceptualization of "populism" remains fiercely contested. This ambiguity stems from what Yoram Peri characterizes as its "chameleon-like" nature —devoid of a rigid, fixed doctrine, it fluidly adapts to the specific socio-political landscapes of different eras and regions. To achieve conceptual clarity, scholars generally deconstruct populism into three primary dimensions: The Socio-Structural Dimension: Tjitske Akkerman posits that populism is inherently centered on a moral dichotomy between "the pure people" and "the corrupt elite." Crucially, "the ...