AskProfWolff: Populism as a Political Movement

A Patron of Economic Update asks: "Why and how is it that populism became a dirty word, and became associated with fascism?"

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[williamarnold]

Thanks, Prof for getting this explanation out to where so many can get clarity from it.

[hussrealz]

Thomas Frank Wrote a great book about this: "The People, No". I highly encourage everyone to go and check it out

[Lea-rbnc]

I always stop by Thom Hartman's show when you are featured. It is wonderful news that I can now go directly to the source and learn more. Thank you.

[steveneubeck]

Tariq Ali wrote a book about those in power denigrating opposittion to their policies. He titled it "Beware the Extreme Centre"

[notabene]

“Socialism never took root in America because the poor see themselves not as an exploited proletariat, but as temporarily embarrassed millionaires.”
― John Steinbeck

[xfronsc]

He just described what CNN and the rest of the mainstream media spews out everyday.

[auferstandenausruinen]

Bourgeois society stands at the crossroads, either transition to socialism or regression into barbarism. ----Rosa Luxemburg, 1915

[a.randomjack]

Thanks! I needed that. I think the corporate centrist media got me biased on populism.
Geez! Another time...

[Reynoldsrobert]

Does anyone else see the stuff for jimmying car windows open, hanging on the wall behind him? Side job? No profit sharing? (Hahaha, I'm just kidding Dr Wolff, you are my favorite economist, and if I'm ever the President, you'll be offered a position on my cabinet! )

[llewwamn]

One country is more than enough for any empire to stay on the top of the power hierarchy of the world

[realjickso]

I was actually a part of a "populist" movement, and I was often dismissed by many leftists for doing so. The movement was actually the first in my country, some time during SYRIZA, that was a wide alternative to old politics, and it did contain many leftists, but also many right wing. I left the movement for three reasons:

1) I felt we were actually outnumbered by right wing

2) many have successfully integrated themselves into the status quo

3) the movement wandered off into politically asinine direction (becoming anti-vaccine???)

I was actually thinking that disrupting the political establishment was a good idea, and that the right wing could be, in time, converted, sort of, as we did share a common goal at the time.

Now we have another populist movement, and it's worryingly more right-wing. Hell, it's even called "Patriot Movement". And no alternatives on the left, except for a minor party that is nostalgic about Yugoslavia, and their notion of socialism is still the kind of Soviet government thing...

Also to my friends in USA, you are not alone. EU is facing the same disaster...

[mauibill]

I am opposed to labeling these movements as "populist" for a couple of reasons. First, it obscures the real nature of the public's interest, specifically with socialist ideals and should be rightly called socialism. Second, historically speaking, most "populist" movements have some dark history to them and I'm referring to German populism in the last century. It gives those who oppose popular movements a legitimate argument against them, and we need to remove that weapon from their hands.

[earlgibbs]

History has proven that all complex societies fail or collapse without exception and the variables are numerous save one, random climate change and its impact on the habitat on which to grow food at scale. What is taking place in America is becoming a global crisis exacerbated by the latest virus/plague that apparently has been a likely variable as well in drastically impacting the past set living arrangements in particular regions or continents. If humankind is incapable of collectively solving the self-imposed near term climate catastrophe coming our way, the national politics of our species will become totally irrelevant in the scheme of things. As Professor Noam Chomsky stated the other week, "The trouble with intelligence is that it could be a lethal mutation. We're in the midst of destroying all life on earth with self-imposed mass extinction."

[rebeccaLV]

I enjoy listening to your programs; very provocative, interesting, relevant. But the background to this one is weird. Things on the wall behind look grim. Please change the venue or create a virtual background for your workspace. Thanks

[rkhb]

Prof Wolff any chance to talk about cyberpunk? Is it really a possible destination that capitalism goes to?

[indricotherium]

Populism may be a harmless neutral term in its own right but in the hands of self-proclaimed populist politicians it is always bad. Thus it's right we use populism as a curse term and don't associate it with socially progressive politics. Keep it attributed to the hard-right with its demagoguery, its discrimination, its aggressive and isolationist nationalism.

[cyrusabasi]

Petite bourgeois stratus or their idiology(under any form)oscilate between two principal social poles, working class or bourgeois y

[zacoolm]

Eloquent but incomplete response.What was missed is that the state who represents the ruling class will always feed the and nurture right-wing populism ( Hitler as an example). Another example how the Democratic party rejected Sanders.

[RumBuDum]

Popular progressive movement: *gains massive support by hundreds of millions of people globally*

Neoliberal Capitalist establishment: "noooo not that, don't do that, we shouldn't be able to do such a horrible thing"

[andreypinto]

Prof. Wolff, what do you think about the concept of "inclusive capitalism" would you mind to do a video about it?

If you have some time left even for speak about the new alliance between big bank corps and catholic church?
Thanks in advice!!!

P.s. thank you for your work and the knowledge and awareness you help spreading around the world! 🙏