Free Essay Sample on Activism and Populism

Introduction

Populism is a political approach that champions ordinary people whose concerns are neglected or seem to be overlooked. Populism influences ordinary people to advocate for their rights. The standing of the people is expressed through organized protests (The Progressive Magazine, 2015). According to The Progressive Magazine (2015), protests occur when there is gross civil disobedience. The level of the reaction of the people to noncompliance can vary based on people’s reactions. For example, a demonstration against civil disobedience can grow from small to large-scale. It is essential to discuss the importance of activism and populism and changes that have occurred since the 19th Century.

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Democratic Purpose

The democratic purpose of populism is to push the government to solve the civil disobedience that caused populist reactions. Populism serves as a vehicle by which the ordinary people advocate for their civil rights and freedoms. The definition of populism has not undergone a positive change from the later 19th Century. Its application and interpretation still stand in modern society. Populists, in the late 19th Century, were regarded as diseased demons (Taibbi, 2020). The government depicted the people who participated in populism movements as slayers of American virtue. Currently, administrations regard populism as a menace (Taibbi, 2020). The elite class perceived populist individuals as barriers to their decisions. For that reason, populism has had no favor with the Republican’s ideas and justifications from the late 19th Century to the present (Taibbi, 2020). For example, during the post-Brexit and post-Trump era, the pundits considered the movements as populist threats.

The depiction of populism has changed from its actual meaning of representing people’s welfare to a menace due to the Republicans’ misjudgments. The Republicans consider their ideas as educated and thoughtful. On the contrary, the populists’ ideas have been ignored due to their ever-demanding advocacies to equalize the differences between the ordinary people and the elite class (The Analysis News, 2020a). Besides, populism has gained weak support. For example, the anti-populism would emerge strongly if corporate democrats such as Joe Biden abandons the concerns of populists whom they represent.

Political Dynamics

The political and economic dynamics in the era of the Gilded Age prompted populists to cause unity among people in different occupations and localities (The Analysis News, 2020a). Forging unity among farmers and urban settlers was the chief role of populism during the Gilded Age. Populists wanted a favorable international trade policy that could benefit the people during the Great Depression/New Deal (the Analysis-news, 2020). However, the enactment of their opinions depends on white supremacists.

During the late 20th Century, the people made attempts to recover from economic imbalances. The political and economic dynamics in the late 20th Century influenced populist changes by prompting the need for solidarity of all the ordinary people to fight corruption and self-centered motives of the elite class (The Analysis News, 2020b). The political and economic dynamics in the early 21st Century influenced populist changes by prompting the need to enhance participation in crucial government decisions that concern the public interest.

Frank noted some roles of class and race in the populist movements. People of higher social levels have the upper hand in advancing populist movements than those at a lower social level (The Analysis News, 2020c). For example, Joe Biden would successfully move people-focused issues. The struggle for power between the elite groups and the people poses challenges to populism. The people from high class often looks for things that gratify their interests regardless of the need for interventions in issues of civil disobedience.

Conclusion

Overall, the concept of populism has not changed a lot since the 19t Century. The whites have the upper hand in advancing populism compared with people of color. The discrimination for non-white individuals in the political arena serves as a barrier to their role in promoting populism. Populism needs a corporate hand to help provide a strong voice capable of influencing decisions made by the government to align them with the interests of the people.

References

Taibbi, M. (2020, August 2). Kansas should go F--- Itself. Taibbi Substack.
https://taibbi.substack.com/p/kansas-should-go-f-itself

The Analysis News. (2020a, July 30). Liberal elites will create conditions for another Trump – Thomas Frank (3/3). YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRwSIom0UcQ&feature=youtu.be

The Analysis News. (2020b, July 30). Corp. Dems idolize FDR but hate the populists that supported him -Thomas Frank (2/3). YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNOCr5HCmR8

The Analysis News. (2020c, July 24). Populism is not mob rule – Thomas Frank (1/3). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7lgWtPxfxt0

The Progressive Magazine. (2015, April 9). Calls to action: Howard Zinn. YouTube.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=73&v=Z9mZIUS3Aqw&feature=emb_logo.