Populist Revolutions

Prior to the year 2016, ‘populism’ was a word primarily relegated to textbooks on 19th and early 20th century American history. But in 2017, Cambridge Dictionary declared it the word of the year. In between were two monumental elections: the 2016 US presidential election and the vote in the UK to leave the European Union. As of 2024, populism has become an entrenched force that has reshaped democratic politics in the US, Europe, Latin America, and the world over. Professor Josh Kleinfeld of George Mason’s Antonin Scalia Law School will explain exactly what populism is, why it took center stage in the 21st century, and what that means for elections, law, and public policy in 2024 and beyond.