National Populism: The Revolt Against Liberal Democracy

In this era of rising national populism, many dismiss its supporters as angry white men or label the movement as a return to fascism. Eatwell and Goodwin's work challenges these misconceptions by examining how four major societal changes - distrust in elites, fears about national identity, economic inequality, and weakening party loyalty - have reshaped Western politics. Through analysis of events like Brexit and Trump's victory, the short reveals how national populist movements attract diverse supporters across age, class, and ethnic lines while working within democratic systems. By exploring public opinion data and demographic trends, this short demonstrates why these movements express legitimate concerns about representation, identity, and economic security in modern democracies — and why they're likely to persist.