Political visions 1 February 2018 Welfare states and the “liberal paradox” – An interview with Thomas Faist By Maurizio Ferrera and Thomas Faist We should not forget that right-wing populism at first sight appear as a corrective to the current market liberalizing regimes in Europe. Yet such a view is deceiving. In reality, right-wing populists are the beneficiaries of market radical, neo-liberal policies of many member state governments.