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populism

Topic

A political ideology emphasizing the common person against the 'elites'. The podcast warns that an economic recession could fuel a populist revolt on both the left and right, turning against free markets, technology, and entrepreneurship.


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7/22/2025, 3:50:40 AM

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7/22/2025, 5:42:20 AM

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7/22/2025, 5:42:20 AM

Summary

Populism is a complex and contested political concept that emerged in the late 19th century, emphasizing the idea of the 'common people' in opposition to a perceived elite or establishment. It is often associated with anti-establishment and anti-political sentiment, and while it can manifest in democratic forms, its contemporary understanding frequently links it to authoritarian politics centered around charismatic leaders. The term, derived from the Latin 'populus' (the people), has been applied to various movements and figures, often carrying a negative connotation. Discussions around populist policies, such as the 'Liberation Day Tariff,' highlight concerns about economic logic, protectionism, and potential geopolitical fallout, including strained relations with allies and intensified competition with countries like China. The rise of populism is viewed by some as a significant threat to foundational American strengths like exceptionalism, entrepreneurship, and innovation, particularly in fields such as AI.

Referenced in 1 Document
Research Data
Extracted Attributes
  • Types

    Economic, political, and cultural populism

  • Etymology

    From Latin word "populus" meaning "the people"

  • Definition

    A contested political concept emphasizing the idea of the "common people" in opposition to a perceived elite, often carrying anti-establishment and anti-political sentiment.

  • Connotation

    Frequently negative or pejorative

  • Core Belief

    Society is divided into the 'people' (purely good) and the 'elite' (purely corrupt), with politics aiming for the will of the people to triumph over the elite

  • Characteristics

    Deep suspicion of prevailing establishment, belief that establishment conspires against the people, people are true repositories of the nation's soul, often nativist and suspicious of foreigners

  • Political Style

    Can be democratic or authoritarian; typically critical of political representation; revolves around charismatic leaders who claim to embody the will of the people

  • Scholarly Debate

    Diverse definitions, with some scholars proposing abandonment of the term due to imprecision and value-laden nature

  • Ideological Nature

    Thin-centred, meaning it can be attached to more comprehensive ideologies like nationalism or socialism; spans the political spectrum from left to right

Timeline
  • The People's Party, also known as the Populist Party, was established in the United States, practicing left-wing populism. (Source: ERF.org.eg)

    1892-00-00

  • The People's Party (Populist Party) ceased its activity. (Source: ERF.org.eg)

    1908-00-00

  • The term 'populism' developed in the late 19th century. (Source: Wikipedia)

    1800s

  • With half of the world population voting, a rise in populist leaders is anticipated, especially in the West, driven by geopolitical instability and socio-economic shifts. (Source: liberties.eu)

    2024-00-00

Populism

Populism is a contested concept for a variety of political stances that emphasize the idea of the "common people", often in opposition to a perceived elite. It is frequently associated with anti-establishment and anti-political sentiment. The term developed in the late 19th century and has been applied to various politicians, parties, and movements since that time, often assuming a pejorative tone. Within political science and other social sciences, several different definitions of populism have been employed, with some scholars proposing that the term be rejected altogether.

Web Search Results
  • What is populism: definition, characteristics, examples | liberties.eu

    The term populism goes back to the Latin word "populus", which means "the people". Today, populism is understood to mean a certain style of politics. However, there is no precise or uniform definition. On the contrary, the term is considered imprecise and value-laden, as it is often used in public debates as a kind of "killer argument" to undermine opposing opinions. [...] ## Donate to liberties ##### Democracy & Justice # What is populism: definition, characteristics, examples ### Populism is a political style that has dominated public debate in Europe in recent years. But what does it actually mean to be populist? And why is populism potentially so dangerous? ##### by Franziska Otto Updated on 21.05.2024 by Una Glatz ## What does populism mean? [...] With half of the world population voting in 2024 we are likely to see a rise in populist leaders especially, in the West. As indicated by both the Coface social and political risk indicator and a study byIpsos on the current dynamics of populism, geopolitical instability and sudden socio-economic shifts creates a fruitful environment for the success of such charismatic populist leaders. As a result, populism is a serious threat to the global state of democracy that should be taken seriously in

  • Populism | History, Facts, & Examples - Britannica

    The term populism can designate either democratic or authoritarian movements. Populism is typically critical of political representation and anything that mediates the relation between the people and their leader or government. In its most democratic form, populism seeks to defend the interests and maximize the power of ordinary citizens, through reform rather than revolution. In the United States the term was applied to the program of the Populist Movement, which gave rise to the Populist, or [...] In its contemporary understanding, however, populism is most often associated with an authoritarian form of politics. Populist politics, following this definition, revolve around charismatic leaders who appeal to and claim to embody the will of the people in order to consolidate their own power. In this personalized form of politics, political parties lose their importance, and elections serve to confirm the leader’s authority rather than reflect the different allegiances of the people. Some [...] populism, political program or movement that champions, or claims to champion, the common person, usually by favourable contrast with a real or perceived elite or establishment. Populism usually combines elements of the left and the right, opposing large business and financial interests but also frequently being hostile to established liberal, socialist, and labour parties.

  • 15 Famous Examples of Populism (2025) - Helpful Professor

    Populism is a type of ideology that believes society to be divided into the ‘people’ and the ‘elite’. The people are seen as purely good and the elite as purely corrupt. Politics should therefore be about making sure that the will of the people triumphs over the elite. Unlike most ideologies, populism is ‘thin-centred’, meaning that it can be attached to more comprehensive ideologies, such as nationalism or socialism. [...] As Zea argues, he’s a “perfect example of populist leader..mere rhetoric and zero result”. Thanks to Zea for this suggestion – and if you have any more ideas of populist leaders, leave a comment in the comments section below. ## Conclusion Populism is a political ideology that pits the masses against an enemy. Usually, this enemy is the social, cultural, and economic elites. [...] However, sometimes the target population that bolsters populist movements can be a minority group such as immigrants or a religious group who are seen as holding too much power and pulling all the strings in a nation. As the above examples show, populism spans the political spectrum – from left to right.

  • [PDF] UNDERSTANDING THE GLOBAL RISE OF POPULISM - LSE

    But what then is populism? The answer to this simple question is by no means clear. Populism reflects a deep suspicion of the prevailing establishment; that this establishment in the view of most populists does not just rule in the common good but conspires against the people; and that the people, however defined, are the true repositories of the soul of the nation. Populists also tend in the main to be nativist and suspicious of foreigners (though this is more likely to be found on the right [...] 1. One was not so long ago provided by Moises Naim, editor of the magazine Foreign Policy. Populism has to be taken seriously he agrees. But it has no intellectual coherence. It is merely a rhetorical ‘tactic’ that demagogues around the world have always used, and will continue to use, to gain power and then hold on to it. As Naim puts it: “The fact is that populism is not an ideology. Instead, it’s a strategy to obtain and retain power. It has been around for centuries, recently appearing to [...] dealing with populism tended to fall into two main categories: “sneering or patronising”.3 The controversial sociologist Frank Furedi was more scathing still. Populism, he argued, had virtually become a term of abuse directed against anybody critical of the status quo. Worse, it implied that the revolt facing the West today was not a legitimate response to deep seated problems but was rather the problem itself.4 This was clearly the conclusion arrived at in one influential book on the subject.

  • Three types of populism: economic, political and cultural

    The origin of the term ‘populism’ goes back to the People’s Party or the Populist Party, as it was called by the public. This party was established in the United States in 1892 and lasted until 1908. It practiced left-wing populism and fought the federal government, east coast banks and railroad companies to serve the interests of Midwestern farmers. [...] Political populism involves disregarding, undermining, capturing or getting rid of institutions in an authoritarian manner because they are viewed as barriers to ‘the will of people’ rather than providing checks and balances. Cultural populism involves favouring a particular race, nationality, religion, sect or class, especially natives, as the ‘real people’, at the expense of others, especially migrants. [...] 56 share A "Increase the article font size") ### In a nutshell Populists identify a segment of the society as the ‘real people’ and present themselves as their sole and genuine voice, fighting on their side against the elites and others who usurp their rights and benefits. There are three kinds of populism: economic, political and cultural: although these have common characteristics, the conditions that give rise to each and their consequences are different.