"What is Populism" by Jan-Werner Muller, explains how Trump keeps his base
This is a 2016 book that looks at the growning populist movements around the world and provides a simple explanation of why they work. There is no one definition of populism, which is part of the problem in understanding it. Muller's definition is that populism is the idea that the populists, they and they alone, represent the "true" will of the people.
Democracy is an inherently messy affair. It balances trade-offs between different groups to come to a compromise that can be implement. The balance is always shifting as social conditions shift. Democracy is inherently pluralistic. And the pluralists are always trying to bring new people into the bargain, to expand "the people" But some people feel that they have gotten a bad bargain. Pluralism isn't working for them. These people are fertile grounds for populist leaders. The populist leader is one who claims to represent the "authentic" will of the people. The populist leader gains followers that those who feel aggrieved by the current democratic bargain. They seek to get their way by excluding those who disagree, and so they represent the evil twin of democracy.
We can see how this all plays out with Trump. "Real" Americans have conservative morals, are white Christians, they live in the "heartland," and are "common people." Everyone else is excluded. Minorities are an easy target, so they are not "real" and are against the real Americans. Immigrants and LGBTs are also easy targets. Liberals, the media, and convervative non-Trumpists are enemies of the people because they disagree with will of the people as exclusively interpreted by the populist. There are also the "elites" the white people who are for themselves or have "bad" morals or want to include people who should be excluded. These are all themes Trump has activated, and rightwing populists in other countries do it too. Trump trolls his enemies and the "outsiders." His fans love it because he represents them, he is speaking for them when they feel others are ignoring them. Populist themes transcend party because the leaderships of both parties are part of the elite, unless they bow to the will of the populist (Ryan and McConnell we are looking at you).
I think one of Muller's crucial insights is that populism is not aberration, it is always a near and present danger in a democracy. Today we have Trump, but we've always had people who were aggrieved by the present democratic compromise, it's just a question of how many there are and how aggrieved they feel. The instinct is to push these people out of the bargain, saying "You can't say those things ,"
you know which things) but this does not work. It just makes them feel under attack and more angry. The populist channels this. Direct attacks on Trump don't work either, because, as a populist leader, he just uses the attacks as proof that the elites and his enemies really are out to get him, to silence him for representing the "people." This how he is standing against Mueller's investigation. Mueller is one of the old elite who simply looking to attack him. It doesn't matter that he is a Republican. And even Trump's impeachment and conviction will not change his support much.
So what to do? This is the hard part. You can't beat the populist, you can't join them and you can't allow them to continue destroying the fabric of democracy. Muller's prescription is for the liberals is to humanize themselves in the eyes of the populist. To show they are not the enemy. To listen to their grievances and to the extent they do not compromise basic principles (ex, are racist), address them.
It's no accident that populism has grown since the 2008 financial crisis. People were really hurt, financial elites screwed up badly but were bailed out rather than punished while ordinary people suffered. Obama had the right idea, massive public works to create jobs and healthcare. But he didn't go far enough because he was too inclined to compromise. His public works package was too small (See Paul Krugman on this) and his healthcare system too complicated, and well, Republican. These needs are still unmet. Unemployment is low, but real wages are falling. Trump continues to draw attention to "enemies of the people" rather than real solutions. How do we know this will work? Because there were some Trumpists who's second choice, or even first choice was Bernie Sanders. It doesn't matter that he was a socialist, what mattered is that he was talking to the hurting people who felt unheard. It mattered that he took on the leader of the "elite," Hillary, when others were afraid to. That made him a hero for many.
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