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9 - In Defense of Democratic Populism

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 April 2020

By
Douglas A. Johnson
Edited by
Gerald L. Neuman
Gerald L. Neuman
Affiliation:
Harvard Law School, Massachusetts
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Summary

This chapter questions the proposition that populism is antithetical to human rights. In a constitutional democracy with checks and balances, populism is a form of popular mobilization on moral grounds, and provides an arena for doing something to counter status quo bias. There may indeed be dangers from authoritarian populists, perhaps better described as authoritarians masquerading as populists. But it is necessary to distinguish between liberal and illiberal populists, or inclusive and exclusive populism. Populism offers lessons that the human rights community should learn, including the importance of social movements, the need for clear narrative that encompasses both majorities and minorities, and the use of emotion as the language of values.

Keywords

Populismhuman rightssocial movementshuman rights advocacydemocratic populismPopulist PartyTom HarkinUnited States
Type
Chapter
Information
Human Rights in a Time of Populism
Challenges and Responses
 , pp. 192 - 217
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2020

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