In a new interview for University of Bologna’s Department of Political and Social Sciences, Pardee Professor Vivien Ann Schmidt explained why populism is still relevant in the mainstream political discourse. She also elaborated on its detrimental effects on the democratic system and how it impacts the European Union-United States relations.
Professor Emerita Vivien Ann Schmidt
When asked why populism is continuing to shape contemporary political agenda, Schmidt attributed it to the four M’s — message, messenger, medium, and milieu. The message stands for policy styles that typically emanate an “us vs. them” approach and shun a liberal democracy. Charismatic leaders and anti-system networks delivering such ideas fulfill the role of a messenger. Likewise, social media and traditional media outlets used by right-wing or left-wing populists operate as the medium. Lastly, the milieu encompasses socioeconomic and sociocultural aspects causing people to experience estrangement from the status quo.
“It’s political. It’s about ‘take back control.’ It’s about anti-globalization. It’s about feelings that you can’t trust the politicians, at all.” — Prof. Schmidt on milieu in populism.
Professor Vivien Ann Schmidt was invited as an SPS Guest by University of Bologna to speak about populism in America and Europe
The professor expressed concerns about populism threatening American democracy and signs of authoritarian drift surfacing in the country. She remarked that this wave is not just palpable in the United States but also Europe because of several reasons which are used by messengers to craft resonating populist messages.
“These messengers are channeling the anger that people feel. . . . this actually has to do with something else, which is neoliberalism gone too far, with people feeling that the elites have simply benefited themselves and not them. And that is why what you get is messengers, who manage to use that anger to fuel their own rise. But once in power, then they don’t necessarily work for the people. . . . they erode democracy in so many different ways. This is perhaps the end of U.S. hegemony, but also U.S. democracy.” — Prof. Schmidt on how populists exploit public outrage to secure a political edge.
Schmidt also noted that the unfolding of the current global events involving tariffs have significantly contributed to the tensions between Europe and the U.S. Simultaneously, the emergence of populist trends in Europe risks a possibility of an authoritarian drift. But only time will tell how the leadership and citizens of the continent react to it, if the populists bulldoze their way to the top.
