populism

[pop-yuh-liz-uhm]

noun

1. any of various, often antiestablishment or anti-intellectual political movements or philosophies that offer unorthodox solutions or policies and appeal to the common person rather than according with traditional party or partisan ideologies.

2. grass-roots democracy; working-class activism; egalitarianism.

3. representation or extolling of the common person, the working class, the underdog, etc..

   populism in the arts.

4. (initial capital letter),  the political philosophy of the People's party.

populism

/ ˈpɒpjʊˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. a political strategy based on a calculated appeal to the interests or prejudices of ordinary people

populism

1. The belief that greater popular participation in government and business is necessary to protect individuals from exploitation by inflexible bureaucracy and financial conglomerates. “Power to the people” is a famous populist slogan.

Other Word Forms

• anti-populism noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of populism¹

An Americanism first recorded in 1890–95; from Latin popul(us) “people” ( people, popular ) + -ism

Example Sentences

Confronting right-wing populism, American-style, is one thing when it’s a European classroom.

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What does the data and other evidence tell us about the rise of autocracy and authoritarian populism and forms of illiberalism around the world?

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And all this against a background of international turmoil: war in Europe, disengagement by the Americans, the inexorable rise of populism.

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It’s populism in the language of a Sunday sermon, something that could appeal in a place like Texas.

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That brand, Jenkins said, combines an active opposition to Republican social and economic policies with a dash of the economic populism that has appealed to progressives and independents in recent elections.

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