Left, right, populism - a coming unholy alliance?

[Robo-Star]

Just to clarify, what do you guys understand as populism?

Devolution.

 

[AmazonQueen]

Early on I sort of read "populist" as cynically or insincerely campaigning to deliver the impossible or the inconsequential but highly visible. A bit of a huckster or showman whos main product is themselves.

I certainly agree with how you read its current typical usage.

That's how I'd define it.
Boris and Trump are populists promising what they can't deliver.
Corbyn and Sanders might be deluded (that's a whole different thread) but they are sincere.

Clinton and Blair both opted to deliver what the middle ground wanted but they were managerial rather than populist, promising to deliver much the same as the other lot but more efficiently.

I tend to distrust populist and managerial types, having no strong beliefs of their own even if they start with good intentions they will end up drifting wherever short-term expediency takes them.