Populist Politics Debate

November 24, 2020
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Populist Politics Debate

Be it resolved, we should embrace, not fear, populist politics.

Some proponents of liberal democracy are interpreting the US election results – and Donald Trump’s near win – as a warning sign that the pulse of populist politics still beats strong in the American body politic, an ill tiding for other liberal democracies currently trying to fend off populist insurgencies.

Critics of populism say it is not inconceivable, if action isn’t taken to strengthen liberal democratic institutions and values, that the politics of Spain, France, the UK, and the US could end up looking a lot like those in Hungary, Turkey, Russia, and Brazil today.

Defenders of populist politics say the recent US election is proof that the rough and tumble spirit of democracy is alive and well. They credit populism with turning out historic numbers of voters on both sides of the ballot. Thanks to populist politics, citizens have the power to articulate their interests and anxieties during a period of massive demographic and social upheaval. They argue that populist politics – both right-wing and left-wing – is key to renewing democracy and giving its values and institutions a new lease on life in the 21st century.

“For all the flaws of populist movements, they force political and economic elites to undertake reform. Elites cannot reform themselves.”

– Donald Critchlow

“Populists are political entrepreneurs who identify a large set of discontents, unite people around simplistic, nationalist slogans and once they’ve got 50 plus one percent of the vote, try to change the rules of the game to remain in power.”

– Timothy Garton Ash

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