Populism, often described as a movement that champions ordinary people against perceived elites, has become a defining feature of global politics in recent years. 

From fiery rallies to grassroots mobilizations, populism has taken on various forms shaped by cultural, economic, and political realities. Yet the term itself is fraught with ambiguity and controversy. Critics often associate populism with divisive rhetoric, xenophobia, and authoritarian tendencies. But is this accurate?

At its core, populism is a political approach that challenges entrenched power structures and emphasizes the will of the people. While some of its principles have been perverted in the pursuit of power, it has also served as a vehicle for economic opportunity, as well as for citizen empowerment. 

What is populism?

Populist movements, wherever they slot in on the political spectrum, tap into discontent with the status quo. Discontent with the establishment powers that be, if you will. More importantly, populists in any given country advocate for governance that is responsive to the economic and social needs of its citizens.

Now, that may seem like an overly simplistic statement. After all, don’t all governments strive to fulfill the needs of all their citizens?

Well, no.

Yes, leaders at all levels of government often profess commitments to serving their citizens. Yet, in reality, many (if not most) governments grant disproportionate advantages to specific groups—whether political allies, dominant religious or ethnic factions, or economic elites. 

These advantages manifest in tangible ways, such as subsidies, tax breaks, policies tailored to protect wealth and power, and even legal protections that shield these groups from scrutiny or accountability.

The result? A governance structure that not only fails to address the broader economic struggles or social inequities faced by ordinary citizens but, in many cases, exacerbates them. Public resources are redirected, priorities are skewed, and the voices of many are marginalized in favor of those who hold influence. 

Populist movements arise as a reaction to this imbalance. They demand, at the ballot box and in other ways, a redistribution of power and resources to those left behind by systems meant to serve everyone equally.

Can populism be a unifying ideology?

Does populism have the potential to transcend its polarizing reputation? Can it serve as a unifying force that bridges ideological divides? What common-ground issues—such as economic opportunities, national sovereignty, or anti-corruption efforts—could populist movements rally around to build a better future? 

For answers to these questions, let’s examine some contemporary policies that could be considered populist. 

By remaining objective and grounded in evidence, we can arrive at a clearer understanding of what populism is and what it could become—as well as what it is not and should not become.

This could spark a meaningful conversation about how populism might evolve from a contentious label into a tool for uniting a broad array of communities around shared hopes and dreams.

Traits of an ethical populism

Let’s begin with a list of traits that could or should be included in an ethical populism:

• Respect for individual rights: Every person’s dignity, freedom, and rights are taken into consideration, regardless of their background or beliefs. The majority’s voice is important, but not at the expense of minority rights.
  
• Equality under the law: Laws apply equally to everyone, whether they are rich or poor, powerful or powerless. No one is above the law, and fairness is a guiding principle.
  
• Community-centered leadership: Leaders genuinely serve the people, listening to their needs and concerns while working to solve real problems that impact everyday lives.
  
• Inclusive participation: All citizens are encouraged to participate in shaping their community and government.
  
• Economic fairness: Policies provide opportunities for everyone to thrive, with attention to protecting workers, businesses of all types, and vulnerable populations.
  
• Honest communication: Leaders commit to truth, transparency, and accountability. They reject manipulation, fear-mongering, or divisive rhetoric.
  
• Promotion of unity over division: Ethical populism emphasizes what unites people and encourages shared purpose, instead of pitting groups against one another.

In theory, these are wonderful ideals, but how might they translate in practice? 

Well, let’s examine some examples of these ideals, culled from around the world. While each example only reflects an isolated policy or action, they all adhere to populist principles.

We’ll describe what these actions were intended to accomplish and how well they did in real life.

Respect for individual rights

• Criminal justice reform through the First Step Act (2018): The First Step Act in the United States focused on reducing sentences for nonviolent offenders and improving prison conditions. Its goals included addressing concerns about the fairness of sentencing in the federal justice system, as well as helping reintegrate individuals into society after being released from prison.

However, the legislation was just a first step in dealing with the massive problem of incarceration in the US, which has one of the largest per capita prison populations in the world. Moreover, implementation of the Act has been uneven, with delays in programs and inadequate funding for rehabilitation.

Equality under the law

• Ukraine’s anti-corruption reforms (2019–present): Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s administration pursued legal reforms to curb corruption, such as introducing asset declarations for public officials. The reforms signaled a move toward greater fairness and accountability.

Nevertheless, anti-corruption reforms have faced allegations of political bias, with opponents claiming they are used to target political rivals rather than apply the laws uniformly.

• South Korea’s prosecution of corruption: South Korea has consistently pursued legal action against political and corporate leaders involved in corruption, including former presidents, demonstrating the equal application of the law.

As with such legally based campaigns, there’s always the danger of factions in positions of power unfairly weaponizing such actions against political opponents.  

Community-centered leadership

• Copenhagen, Denmark’s urban development: Copenhagen’s city government emphasizes community input in its urban planning to create a commuter-friendly infrastructure (such as extensive bike paths) and public spaces that reflect the needs and desires of the majority of its residents.

Nevertheless, these improvements can displace lower-income residents or small businesses while also favoring affluent urban dwellers. Placing priority on community goals over individual needs may lead to inequitable outcomes or force individuals to conform to collective priorities.

Inclusive participation

• Appeals to Rust Belt workers and forgotten communities (2016): Love him or hate him, Donald Trump’s focus on revitalizing American manufacturing, including hundreds of shuttered factories whose jobs had been lost to China and other nations, was a key part of the campaign that won him the White House in 2016. 

This populist message addressed concerns in economically struggling regions, and emphasized the importance of their inclusion in the nation’s growth.

Economic fairness

• Norway’s Sovereign Wealth Fund: Norway invests its oil revenues in a publicly accountable fund. The goal of this program is to ensure long-term economic stability and equitable resource distribution for its citizens.

• Germany’s worker representation: German laws mandate worker representation on company boards to give employees a voice in corporate decisions and promote fairer labor conditions.

Honest communication

• Taiwan’s pandemic transparency: During the Covid-19 pandemic, Taiwan’s government provided real-time updates and openly shared strategies. These efforts strengthened public trust in the government’s responses to the event. 

Promotion of unity over division

• Singapore’s multiracial housing policies: Singapore mandates ethnic diversity in public housing to encourage better integration of the nation’s various ethnic groups and promote national unity over racial divisions.

It is true that this housing policy prioritizes national unity over personal or familial preferences. However, that’s the trade-off the Singapore government is willing to make. 

These examples illustrate how leaders and movements can embody ethical populist policies, even if their broader records might not fully align with the populist-rooted principles listed above.

With this in mind, let’s look at what some might call the hijackers of the populist brand. The fake populists, if you will.

The perversions of populism

Perversions of populism occur when populist rhetoric or policies are co-opted to serve narrow, unethical agendas while claiming to represent “the people.” These distortions often exploit populist ideals to undermine individual freedoms, promote division, or serve elite interests or authoritarian agendas.

By far the most extreme perversions of populism in the last century have been communism, most notably regimes led by Lenin, Stalin, and Mao, and national socialism, as practiced by the Nazi Party in Germany. 

These scourges of the twentieth century all claimed to represent the will of the people, yet they centralized power in authoritarian governments that brutally suppressed individual freedoms and silenced dissent.

Beyond these well-known infamous cases, here are examples of how populism is being distorted and misused to serve authoritarian agendas:

Overconcentration of power in “the leader”

• Nicolás Maduro’s Consolidation of Power in Venezuela: While Maduro claims to represent the working class, his government’s authoritarian measures, including undermining democratic processes, have concentrated power in the hands of elites and dramatically increased economic hardship for the nation’s citizens.

Suppressing dissent while claiming to represent “the people”

• Crackdowns on protest movements in Turkey by President Erdogan’s regime:
  The Erdogan government frames itself as defending Turkey’s sovereignty and traditional values. However, by suppressing dissent and imprisoning journalists, it has compromised individual freedoms and stifled pluralism. 

Hijacking populist rhetoric to advance globalist trade agendas

• The framing of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) as empowering workers: While proponents of the TPP emphasized its benefits for workers and economic growth, critics, including 2016 US Presidential candidates Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump, argued it undermined American workers and disproportionately favored multinational corporations. 

Using populist narratives to curtail individual rights

• China’s surveillance state, framed as “protecting the people”: China’s government justifies its extensive surveillance systems as necessary to maintain public safety and harmony. However, this approach has enabled mass suppression of dissent and violations of individual freedoms under the guise of serving “the people.”

Diverting public resources to corruption under populist pretenses

• State-owned enterprises in Zimbabwe under Robert Mugabe: Mugabe’s regime used populist rhetoric to justify land redistribution and nationalization policies. These initiatives were riddled with corruption and benefited favored elites rather than the people they claimed to help.

Populist rhetoric masking globalist alliances

• Economic policies in Mexico under AMLO (President Andrés Manuel López Obrador): While AMLO branded his government as populist and anti-elite, critics argue that his administration favored foreign energy companies over local development, which compromised the sovereignty he claimed to defend.

These examples show how populist ideals can be hijacked to promote unethical agendas that harm the very people they claim to serve. Such distortions can lead to authoritarianism, environmental degradation, exploitation, or globalist outcomes disguised as populism.

Populism’s stance against elite global governance

While this article does not explore globalism, it is worth noting that globalism represents populism’s primary ideological counterpart. Globalism emphasizes interconnected economies, multilateral institutions, and centralized policy coordination across borders. 

Populist movements, by contrast, define themselves largely in opposition to such structures. At their core, these movements push back against elites who prioritize global interdependence, technocratic governance, and policies detached from the lived realities of ordinary people. 

Populism’s appeal stems from its promise to disrupt unaccountable power and restore direct responsiveness to “the people”—a message that resonates deeply in an era marked by widespread political alienation.

Ethical populism as a unifying force

Despite its checkered history, populism has the potential to bridge ideological divides and address pressing economic and cultural challenges. It can become a unifying force for good, as long as it avoids the divisive pitfalls of exclusion and authoritarianism. 

Here are a few principles populists might rally around to accomplish this goal of unity:  

Embracing pluralism

Ethical populism must define “the people” as a diverse, pluralistic community. By respecting cultural, ethnic, and ideological differences, it can build unity while safeguarding democratic values and minority voices.

Promoting participatory democracy

Direct engagement through town halls, referendums, and grassroots decision-making builds trust and accountability. Using such forums, ethical populism can empower citizens to play a more active role in governance and deepen their investment in democratic processes.

Focusing on common-ground solutions

Ethical populism unites across divides by addressing universal concerns such as environmental sustainability, affordable education, and anti-corruption efforts. These shared priorities transcend partisanship and inspire collective action.

Rejecting divisive rhetoric

Instead of fear-mongering, ethical populism can emphasize shared humanity and common aspirations. Leaders who inspire hope and solidarity can channel populist energy into constructive change that benefits all.

Charting a new path for populism

To sum it up, when grounded in principles of inclusivity, shared solutions, and democratic engagement, ethical populism has the potential to be a transformative force. It invites leaders and citizens alike to join in building a future where governance is driven by compassion, fairness, and a commitment to the common good. 

When adhering to the ethical principles described above, populism would not just be a reactionary force but could become a movement for lasting progress for all.

Notes

1. After winning the 2016 election, President Trump formally withdrew the US from the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP). His executive order cited the need to protect American jobs and focus on bilateral trade deals instead of multilateral agreements. The remaining 11 countries renegotiated the pact, which was renamed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership, which excluded the US but retained much of the original TPP framework.