In recent years  “populism” has become a fashionable word, which is used to describe certain social phenomena or problems in the West and China. Being an exotic word, “populism” has different connotations in Chinese and Western contexts, and has also been used by Marxists. Today a growing number of academic journals, mainstream media scholars and even government officials use this concept to understand and analyze problems in contemporary China. Under such context, especially with acute and complex ideological struggles within China, it is absolutely necessary to clarify on the meaning of “populism” in different discourse systems, especially its connotation and the intention of the Chinese scholars in its usage. Such a clarification will help us gain a clear understanding of the connotation and essence of “populism”, and recognize the danger of copying the Western concept of "populism" by Chinese scholars.

Editor: Zhong Yao

World Socialism Studies.2016.No.2.