9/ We dedicate this study to the collective behind the protest movement #YodefiendoalCIDE

8/ Modern populist leaders may avoid direct repression, but they can still harm liberal democracy by undermining key pillars like pluralism and dissent. Attacks on #AcademicFreedom are one way populists erode democracy.

7/ Building on this narrative, López Obrador launched a budgetary attack on CIDE: its funding was cut, and a trust fund that allowed the institution to generate its own resources was eliminated.

6/ López Obrador portrayed CIDE as an elitist institution detached from the people. In his struggle over truth and facts, an institution like CIDE, that generates knowledge and critical views, became an obstacle to a leader seeking direct, unmediated communication with society.

5/ The case of CIDE in Mexico shows how attacks on #AcademicFreedom work. Like many populist leaders, López Obrador sought to control the public narrative and showed disdain for science and other sources of information that could challenge his views.

4/ Countries with leaders who use more populist discourse show a clear, statistically significant drop in academic freedom. Moving from the lowest to the highest level of populism means a decline comparable to going from the UK (2017–18) to Serbia (2004–8) or Ecuador (2000–5).

3/ Populism also works as a strategy to gain power through a direct, unmediated connection with the masses. As leaders claim to exclusively represent “the people,” pluralism and dissent become obstacles to eliminate—turning academic institutions into natural targets.

2/ Populism divides society into the good people vs. the corrupt elite. Conceptually it has two opposites: elitism and pluralism. Universities can be seen as elitist but also foster pluralism and dissent—values that clash with the worldview of populist leaders.