Populism is one of the most loosely defined terms in modern political vernacular. It has been used to describe the campaigns of both President Donald Trump and socialist Senator Bernie Sanders. Members of the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street have both used the label to describe their own beliefs.
Clearly, populism means more than simply being on the right or the left. It is a grassroots ideology: the working man’s fight against elitism. And while it can certainly take various forms as seen during the 2016 presidential election, it all comes down to shaking up the status quo.
Former White House strategist Steve Bannon, perhaps the most despised person in the United States if you’re on the left, has been one of the most prominent populist voices in the modern age. His website, Breitbart.com, was enormously influential for conservatives who felt that the Republican Party no no longer represented their interests. Bannon has also been active in promoting populist political uprisings in Europe, where even right-wing parties make Elizabeth Warren look like a middle-of-the-road moderate.
In an interview with YouTube’s Carl Benjamin, better known as Sargon of Akkad, Bannon sits down to explain exactly what populism is, as well as its relationship to nationalism and patriotism. The conversation below goes deep into exploring just how populism is appropriated by political actors, and why it appears to be so much more prominent now than at any other time in history.
The video below is over 50 minutes long, but it’s packed with illuminating information.
Bannon has recently released a film called Trump @ War, which serves as a retrospective on Trump’s uncanny victory in 2016 as well as explains how populism has evolved over time. Since the film’s release, Bannon has made a point to make appearances on both traditional and alternative media outlets.
Watch Steve Bannon explain populism like no one else has been able to below.
~ Liberty Planet
