Populism has surged across Western democracies, often capitalizing on economic anxieties and cultural fears. Eleanor Finch investigates this phenomenon, detailing how populist leaders in countries like France, the UK, and the US have gained traction by promising to return power to ‘the people’. She examines the common threads among these movements, from anti-elitism to skepticism of globalization.
Finch discusses the impact of populism on policy, from immigration restrictions to economic nationalism, and how these shifts are reshaping international relations. She also looks at the social divisiveness that can accompany populist rhetoric, potentially undermining democratic institutions through polarization. The article addresses the role of social media in amplifying populist messages, often bypassing traditional political discourse.
She concludes by pondering the future of populism, whether it’s a temporary backlash or a sign of deeper, structural changes in how democracy functions, urging for a nuanced approach to understanding and addressing its root causes.
