Alexandru D. Moise

Pundits and scholars still often question whether the economy plays a significant role in populism. In my latest piece @ConversationUS, I dive into our first-of-its-kind meta-analysis @BJPolS to argue that economic insecurity is a crucial driver of populism. While cultural anxieties play a role, the media's focus on populist voters' "bad manners" and cultural provocations overshadows the broader appeal of populist movements. For instance, The Democrats have been hemorrhaging support among working-class Americans, regardless of race, losing voters who are more attracted to Trump's populism than technocratic centrism. This is not merely a cultural problem; it's a political challenge arising from working-class economic anxieties. Successful populists expand their appeal by tapping into economic fears and thereby go beyond their racist/culturalist core base. To combat populism, we must transcend the dichotomy of culture versus economy and recognize their interplay. Addressing right-wing populism requires a concerted effort to alleviate the economic insecurity that underpins this global phenomenon. theconversation.com/populism… @DrMcNamara @davidstuckler @ManuSeral @alexdmoise @EuropeAtHarvard @GUQatar