Populism and Antitrust
The Illiberal Influence of Populist Government on the Competition Law System

Populism and Antitrust examines the influence of populism on competition law and shows how populism can lead to illiberal changes.

Maciej Bernatt (Author)

9781108710992, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 20 February 2025

276 pages
22.8 x 15 x 1.5 cm, 0.4 kg

'Bernatt avoids a populist study of populism and antitrust by engaging in an impressive methodical analysis of the manners in which the rule of populist governments challenges the foundations of competition law.' Or Brook, European Law Review

Competition law is designed to promote a consumer-friendly economy, but for the law to work in practice, competition agencies - and the courts who oversee them - must enforce it effectively and impartially. Today, however, the rule of populist governments is challenging the foundations of competition law in unprecedented ways. In this comprehensive work, Maciej Bernatt analyses these challenges and describes how populist governments have influenced national and regional (EU) competition law systems. Using empirical findings from Poland and Hungary, Bernatt proposes a new theoretical framework that will allow the illiberal influence of populism on competition law systems to be better measured and understood. Populism and Antitrust will be of interest not only to antitrust and constitutional law scholars, but also to those concerned about the future of liberal democracy and free markets.

Part 1. Background: Populism, Democracy, Economy: 1. Introduction
2. Populism and its Relationship with Democracy and the Economy
Part 2. Populist Influence on Competition Law System: 3. Conceptualization of the Impact of Populism on Competition Law Systems
4. Institutions
5. Enforcement
Part 3. A Regional System: 6. A Regional System: The Case of the European Union
Part 5. Final Diagnosis and Prospects: 7. Conclusions and the Way Forward
Bibliography.

Subject Areas: Competition law / Antitrust law [LNCH], Comparative law [LAM], Comparative politics [JPB]