Populism in the United States

The Belgian political scientist Jérôme Jamin dissects how deeply populism is rooted in American politics. His essay explains that Trump is part of an American tradition of candidates, like the since forgotten Pat Buchanan or Ross Perot. It also recalls that if the Democrats and populists fight for votes by using the idea of a homogeneous and hard-work- ing majority, it’s the populist rhetoric that brands the elite an ‘illegitimate minority’ and that constantly strives to discredit this elite and to make it responsible for all the ills of society.