Populist profiles of young adults: Differences in political and emotional dimensions

Against the backdrop of prevalent views of populism as either a monolithic or a dichotomous category, exploring the diversity of profiles characterising populist citizens becomes crucial. Based on quantitative analyses of a Portuguese surveyed sample of 1047 young adults (aged 18–30), this article explores how citizens cluster around populist, democratic, immigration, and political values. Four profiles emerged (one non-populist and three populist): democratic pluralist , pluralist populist , anti-democratic populist , and democratic populist . These profiles are further examined to understand whether and how they differ regarding political and emotional dimensions. Our data show the coexistence of clear and expected profiles linked to left- and right-wing ideology, alongside a profile of young adults who intend to vote for Chega (a radical right-wing populist party) but who surprisingly display democratic and pluralist values. Moreover, negative emotions and institutional distrust are inextricably linked to populist attitudes, regardless of the populist profile. The cluster of far-right populists is the angriest and most threatened by the country’s political situation.