Аннотация:Both in public opinion and the realm of the social sciences a common definition of populism is absent. The concept of populism has been used to refer to such a variety of phenomena, that it is more than problematical for undertaking comparative analysis. In this paper I discuss different me - thodological approaches to define populism and I argue that a minimal concept of populism is the most fruitful approach to devel op a comparative research agenda. To show this, I compare the minimal definitions developed by Kurt Weyland ( populism as a political strategy ) and Cas Mudde ( populism as a thin - centered ideology ). Moreover, I explain why Mudde's definition should be the starting point for a comparative research agenda on populism. To conclude, I show that this minimal definition is help ful for analyzing the ambivalent relation ship between populism and democracy.
