![]() The Müller definition seems the most useful and is the one we favor in our analysis-although whether “populism” is the best label to attach to it is another matter. In order to qualify as a populist, a politician also has to be anti-pluralist, arguing that “they, and only they, represent the people.” Populism is thus an exclusionary form of identity politics, which is why it poses a threat to democracy. He agrees that being critical of elites is a necessary condition of being a populist, but denies that it is sufficient, since so many politicians, many of whom are not apparently populist, claim that they are anti-elite and are acting on behalf of the people. Perhaps the most cited definition is that of Cas Mudde and Cristóbal Rovira Kaltwasser, according to whom populism is a “thin-centered ideology that considers society to be ultimately separated into two homogenous and antagonistic camps, ‘the pure people’ versus ‘the corrupt elite,’ arguing that politics should be an expression of the volonté générale (general will) of the people.” Jan-Werner Müller has a more demanding definition. ![]() Recent political science literature defines populism in a variety of ways. Third, the economic consensus has sometimes been on the wrong side of important policy debates involving opponents rightly or wrongly described as populist.Īny assessment of populism must begin with a definition, something that remains contested. Second, there is no necessary relationship between populism and anti-globalization sentiment. First, the late 19 th-century Populist Party in the United States was not actually populist. What can economic history contribute to the debate? In a recent paper, we argue that history should make us more careful about how we use the word “populism” and more cautious about generalizations regarding its economic and social correlates. Scholars have explored the economic and cultural roots of populism, including the role of the internet and social media, as well as its economic consequences. The academic literature on populism has exploded since 2016, not just in political science but also in economics. ![]() Alan de Bromhead and Kevin O’Rourke argue that economists need a better understanding of populism’s history and its variegated goals when ascribing specific characteristics and behaviors to populists and their movements. However, the definition of populism remains contested. Economists have become increasingly interested in questions about populism over the last decade and particularly since Brexit and the election of American President Donald Trump. ![]()
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