The main threat that populism poses to liberal democracy is that it excessively adheres to the majoritarian principle of democracy—the concept that the majority should rule under a democratic system. By following this principle to the extreme, populism can oppose the liberal principle of democracy—the concept that people (especially minorities) have intrinsic rights that must be protected. In their advocacy for the needs of the majority, populists often steamroll protections meant to maintain civil liberties and thereby threaten liberal democracy.