The Rise of Populism in America

Populism is most simply defined as support for the concerns of ordinary people, and those who call themselves populists — whether on the right or left of the political spectrum — claim they represent the people’s interests, most often against a privileged elite. But today’s waves of populism across the United States and Europe seem to be reactions, perhaps to the ways globalization, multiculturalism, unfettered immigration, and/or wage stagnation have diminished populists’ status. In this look at the current populist era in the United States, we will examine what this particular phenomenon is about, why it happened, and what we might do to address the concerns of those who have felt neglected. Speakers: Arthur Brooks, Kevin Delaney, Jason Furman, Rebecca Blumenstein, James Manyika, Danielle Allen, Chad Bown