Abstract. We analyze the content of populism as a phenomenon in historiographic example. The problem of interaction between populism  and  politics.  The  problems  of  populism  is  studied  through  the  prism  of  Ukrainian  and  foreign  scientists.  Highlight  the  required conditions and factors of populism in different periods of history. Author analyzed the problem of populism in Ukrainian politics.  In Ukrainian literature interest in populism appeared in the late 1990s. The initial study was the basis of his reception of analytical findings  Western  scholars.  Today  domestic  historiography  populism  presented  a  number  of  papers  in  the  form  of  articles.  Amid  the general characteristics of the phenomenon of populism, based primarily on the legacy of Western political scientists, highlights particular issues such as manifestations of populism in the Ukrainian national movement, modern Ukrainian politics populist methods of political struggle, philosophical discourse of the concept. The attention of researchers attract manifestations of populism in the actual political landscape of Eastern Europe. The researchers also pointed to the populist part in the activities of almost all Ukrainian political parties, the relationship between populism and representative features of national crisis the party system. At the same time we can point to considerable differences and disagreements scientists. This comprehensive, integrated analytical study of populism in Ukrainian historiography until now not been created. In summary, we can emphasize the following points. The largest component of the literature on populism, form publications focused on the history or contemporary realities of certain populist regimes, movements or parties, populist politicians and others. Some of them, as, for example, the history of populist parties in the US are the subject of scientific debate for several decades, and marked a noticeable evolution assessments and conclusions of researchers.