In his book "The Future of Freedom," Fareed Zakaria makes the argument that democracy in itself cannot ensure freedom or positive civic outcomes. To accept populism as positive is to accept the worst failures of democratic regimes, which are rooted in deep institutional inequalities for basic needs. One cannot explain away a negative democratic outcome simply on the basis that it is an democratic outcome. This is circular logic.

Rather, politics and policy have to be examined in conjunction. Where masses are dissatisfied, honest solutions should be developed. Populism is dishonest by default in portraying certain segments of people as the cause of political and economic problems. As such, true solutions are difficult to come across in populist governing agendas.