The Populist Temptation

In the last few years, populism -- of the right, left, and center varieties -- has spread like wildfire throughout the world. The impulse reached its apogee in the United States with the election of Trump, but it was a force in Europe ever since the Great Recession sent the European economy into a prolonged tailspin. In the simplest terms, populism is a political ideology that vilifies economic and political elites and instead lionizes ''the people.'' The people, populists of all stripes contend, need to retake power from the unaccountable elites who have left them powerless. And typically, populists'' distrust of elites shades into a catchall distrust of trained experts because of their perceived distance from and contempt for ''the people.'' Another signature element of populist movements is faith in a savior who can not only speak directly to the people, but also serve as a vessel for the plain people''s hopes and dreams. Going back to the 1890s, a series of such saviors have come a