populism

What’s the Matter with Thomas Frank?

By Erik Loomis

In General

On March 29, 2021

Thomas Frank evidently has a new book out that explores the same ground as his What's the Matter with Kansas book that made his name. I've always found Frank's vision of America incredibly simplistic, to the point of being ridiculous. But I've never bothered exploring...

General

The Bankruptcy of Right Populism

By Erik Loomis

On February 7, 2021

Sen. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) gestures toward a crowd of supporters of President Donald Trump gathered outside the U.S. Capitol to protest the certification of President-elect Joe Biden's electoral college victory.

Hegemonic Unravelling

Multipolar Populism

By Dan Nexon

On April 25, 2020

U.S. Department of State / Public domain Alex Cooley and I have a new piece in Foreign Policy about "multipolar populism." Despite important regional, cultural, and political differences, many contemporary.

On Populism

By Erik Loomis

In General

On October 25, 2017

You want to know something that really bothers me about how the liberal/left remembers American history? It's how we think about the Populists. Of course we filter our understanding of the past through contemporary politics. We've always done that. This is why you see changes...

General

Economic Populism

By Erik Loomis

On February 22, 2016

We know how the appeal of Bernie Sanders is based around economic populism, especially since he's primarily a 1-issue candidate and that's the issue. And we know why--growing income inequality,.

General

Populist Conspiracies

By Erik Loomis

On April 8, 2015

Richard Hofstadter was a very influential historian but he was also a tremendous snob whose personal proclivities would not make him look positively at a bunch of poor southern farmers..

Lawrence Goodwyn, RIP

By Erik Loomis

In General

On September 30, 2013

The great U.S. historian Lawrence Goodwyn has passed. The author of the single best book even written on the Populists, Democratic Promise, The Populist Movement in America (as well as the shorter version, The Populist Moment), Goodwyn made the concerns of these impoverished 19th century...

General

This Day in Labor History: December 11, 1886

By Erik Loomis

On December 11, 2012

On December 11, 1886, the Colored Farmers' Alliance was established in Lovelady in Houston County, Texas. This organization may have accomplished little in concrete gains, but it represented the brave.