EN
The aim of the study is to analyze the phenomenon of penal populism and to formulate a new, synthetic definition of it, taking into account the achievements of Polish and foreign legal doctrine. Through a critical analysis of the definitions already formulated, drawing on the achievements of 20th-century philosophy, the author will try to take into account all the features constituting the policy of penal populism in its definition, as well as assess the discussed phenomenon, showing the potential threats and opportunities resulting from it. The author will go to the roots of the phenomenon of populism as such, indicate its etymology, history, the possibility of transposing this concept onto the legal ground and discuss the mechanism of criminal law-making in a populist manner, pointing to alternative solutions.