Populism and the Failures of Democracy
Populism and the Failures of Democracy

Summary/Abstract: Chambers Dictionary defines a populist as “someone who believes in the right and ability of the common people to play a major part in governing themselves”. “It is understandable that advocates of Brussels’ centralist government should regard this as a term of abuse but why do you all continue to portray populism as some sort of extremist and undesirable activity?” complains the writer of a letter to the Financial Times. Eric Foner of Columbia University says that the word “populist” has simply become “a term of disdain employed by purveyors of a presupposed consensus seeking to disparage popular passions… [the opposite of populist thus becomes the voter who is] responsible or middle of the road or rational” – or in other words, agrees with me.

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