Zakaria notes:
“Populism has always fundamentally been a protest
movement of outsiders railing against a corrupt elite that runs the country.
Right-wing populism, additionally, makes a distinction between the “real
people” and “others” — who tend to be foreigners, immigrants, blacks, Jews and
other minorities.
This strategy works well when you are outside
government. Once you’re inside, though, you face a challenge. Politicians who
win elections usually try to broaden their base and unify the nation. But
populism depends on division and dissatisfaction”.