We’ve reviewed what the experts say about populism. Not all of it is applicable in every situation, nor does every populist movement encompass the exact same characteristics. Nonetheless, populism remains dormant and, to the extent that it denotes a breakdown in the liberal democratic model, it isn’t likely to disappear any time soon. It could […]
Populisms (II): Characteristics
What are the salient characteristics of populism? There’s disagreement on this point, since it can be studied from so many different angles. Nonetheless, we can define it in broad terms: The fundamental analysis revolves around two categories: “normal folk” versus “the elite,” which will have its own nomenclature in every country. “We” are the people […]
Populisms (I): The Root Causes
Every continent has its share of populist movements, both right-wing and left-wing, but only some actually reach a critical mass of power, while others remain on the sidelines. The term “populist” is frequently used as a political weapon to show disdain for a policy, even when it doesn’t quite fit the definition. This is because […]
PODCAST | The New Wave of Populism: Is history repeating?
The rise of populism across the Western world is creating comparisons with events in Europe at the start of the 20th century. How valid is this and what can be done to tackle populism?
Protectionism: Should We Really Worry About It?
The Global Competitiveness Report 2016-17 from the World Economic Forum, published this week, warns about a trend towards protectionism that could hinder future competitiveness and growth. Should we worry about it? Well, let´s first analyze the data. The report compares the average answers by group of countries to four variables that indicate openness. These variables are: […]
PODCAST | Negotiation: The UN Climate Change Conference
Why Multi-Party Negotiations tend to fail: The UN Climate Change Conference, Paris 2015.
TPP: United States and Japan make a move
The agreement signed by the United States and Japan, the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), which includes ten other countries, will represent 40% of the world’s trade volume. Given its scope, this agreement is a definite win for President Obama and Prime Minister Abe. With this agreement, numerous measures will be adopted to foster trade between the […]