Money & Macro Talks Why populism is taking over the West | prof. Sheri Berman
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Mar 26, 2026 Sheri Berman, Columbia political scientist and historian of democracy, outlines why populism is resurging. She traces its historical roots and contrasts left and right variants. She links economic shocks, cultural change, welfare dynamics, and social media to rising support. She warns democratic fragility and calls for broad, practical responses.
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Populism Is A Political Style Not A Single Ideology
- Populism is a political style that frames politics as a struggle between a corrupt elite and the true people.
- Sheri Berman emphasizes it is not inherently anti-democratic and must be paired with other traits to threaten democracy.
Left And Right Populism Mobilize Different Enemies
- Left and right populists share anti-establishment rhetoric but define the enemy differently: left targets economic elites, right targets minorities and cultural elites.
- Berman notes ideology differs across parties, so populism can carry very different policy agendas.
Economic Dislocation Creates Political Opportunity
- Economic causes of populism include rising income/wealth inequality and regional divergence from trade shocks and automation.
- Berman links those disruptions to political consequences: communities left behind become politically mobilizable.