Chapter 2: Populism, Democracy, and the Education of Citizens

However it may be defined, populism is an inherent part of democracy and American political culture. Populist ideas, politicians, and movements may be found across the political spectrum, in the history of nearly every democracy, at all levels of government, for both good and ill. On one hand, the dangerous sides of populism—its inclination to suppress minority views, its tendency to divide, and its potential to devolve into demagoguery—helped to make democracy a dirty word for most of human history. On the other hand, populist critiques of injustice, inequity, and elitism have helped to mobilize and institute positive cultural, economic, and political change. Although democracy—at least in name—has defeated its rivals in much of the world, it remains fragile and susceptible to a number of dangers including some variants of populism.³ Yet, these inherent populist aspects of democracy and democratic political culture remain insufficiently explored in the civic education of Americans.