If there's one thing that people across the political spectrum can agree on, it's a sense of discontent with the current state of American politics. This week, we explore the origins of that discontent and why it's damaging to democracy. Our guest is Matthew Rhodes-Purdy, an assistant professor of political science at Clemson University and one of the authors of The Age of Discontent: Populism, Extremism, and Conspiracy Theories in Contemporary Democracies.
Rhodes-Purdy and his co-authors argue that the most successful populist and extremist movements of the past 20 years have focused largely on cultural grievances, rather than on economic discontent. The book outlines what they describe as the troubling implications of discontent on the long-term compatibility of liberal democracy and free-market neoliberalism.
Looking at case studies from around the world, the authors imply that democratic states must renew their commitment to social regulation of markets and to serve as conduits for citizen voice for democracy and market economies are to survive.
A deep look at political loss
When populism and democracy collide
Understanding union voters
A conflict at the heart of our political disagreements
What can we learn from early democracies?
Building better bureaucracy
Tim Miller on why Republicans stuck with Trump
"Democracy '24" on the debate stage
When the People Decide: Libraries as civic spaces
A deep dive on parties and political reform
Democracy Paradox: The democratic crisis you haven't heard about
Village SquareCast: Can curiosity save us?
Democracy-ish: Can America's democracy be saved?
Democracy needs serious people
Gen Z's fight for democracy
Think Inclusive: Facing the Anti-CRT Movement
Is America in a third reconstruction?
Between democracy and autocracy
Living in a fragmented democracy
Feet in 2 Worlds: Immigrants in a Divided Country
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