Necessary for reform
The populist tradition in America is different from populism in Europe. The populist tradition in the United States reflects an especially vibrant democracy. American populism, historically and today, is an expression of intense anti- elitism. It’s an articulation that established political and economic interests have failed to represent the people’s interests.
Usually, when populist upheaval emerges, we see intellectuals and pundits, often coming from privileged positions of their own, characterizing populism as mass hysteria, misplaced status anxiety, an expression of vile passion, bigotry, religious prejudice and misplaced nationalism. These pundits inevitably warn against scenes of fascism and the threats of a new Mussolini or Hitler.
While warning of fascism, they usually neglect to mention Lenin, Mao, Castro, who took advantage of popular discontent to establish dictatorships. Yet those who support and welcome popular protest as essential to a vibrant democracy and necessary for reform should not have to defend themselves as naive apologists for xenophobia or illiberalism.
My book, In Defense of Populism, speaks on behalf of democracy in action, as it occurred in the past and the present, and speaks on behalf of those who felt, and feel, that the system has betrayed them. It speaks on behalf of angry citizens, historically and today, who saw, and see, business, financial and political elites motivated by greed and the pursuit of power.
Populous movements are often messy. They’re often disturbing. We see leaders of these movements using fiery rhetoric, activists sometimes projecting a conspiracy and using rhetoric that’s illiberal. For all of the flaws of the various populist movements, all of the cranks and conspiracy theorists, they have proved necessary for reform. All of that’s necessary in this messy business we call democratic politics.
When you get popular anti- elitist movements that become broad- based and they gestate, sometimes for decades, it finally forces the established powers, political elites and economic elites, and particularly political parties, to undertake reform. In other words, populism is essential to reform.
Elites cannot reform themselves, as seen throughout much of American history. We do see occasions where established parties undertake reform. But serious reform often necessitates the mobilization of people. So in the end, we shall welcome and not denounce populist politics.