Lecture Summary, “Populism in America. Discuss”: A Viewpoint Diversity Event Co-Hosted by Furman’s On Discourse Initiative
Watch the full Populism: On Discourse event recording.
Event Date: April 8, 2025
Location: Furman University
Hosted by: Tocqueville Center for the Study of Democracy and Society in collaboration with On Discourse
Speakers:
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Pippa Norris (Harvard University)
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Eric Kaufmann (University of Buckingham)
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Jan-Werner Müller (Princeton University)
Welcome and Introduction
Brent Nelsen, Director of the Tocqueville Center, opened the evening by welcoming attendees to the final CLP (Colloquium on Liberalism and Politics) of the academic year.
The Tocqueville Center’s collaboration with On Discourse began the previous fall with a forum on American patriotism featuring Dr. Esau McCaulley, followed by a winter forum on the American family.
“We liked the format and decided to try it again,” Nelsen said, “this time with the theme of populism in the United States.”
Setting the Stage
Nelsen described populism as a recurring phenomenon in both American and world history, noting that the United States is currently experiencing a particularly intense populist moment. He introduced the three distinguished panelists, each of whom has made major contributions to the study of populism:
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Pippa Norris is the Paul F. McGuire Lecturer in Comparative Politics at Harvard University, author of Cultural Backlash: Trump, Brexit, and Authoritarian Populism and the forthcoming The Cultural Roots of Democratic Backsliding.
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Eric Kaufmann is Professor of Politics at the University of Buckingham, and author of Whiteshift: Immigration, Populism, and the Future of White Majorities and Taboo: How Making Race Sacred Produced a Cultural Revolution.
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Jan-Werner Müller is Professor of Politics at Princeton University and author of What is Populism? and Democracy Rules.
Panel Discussion: Can Anything Good Come from Trumpian Populism?
Nelsen posed the opening question:
“Do you see any good for America coming out of the Trump populist movement?”
Eric Kaufmann: Introducing New Issues into the Debate
Eric Kaufmann acknowledged the damage Trump’s movement inflicted on liberal democratic norms but suggested some positive impacts:
“Populists bring into politics interests and values that elites have neglected,” he said. “Trump made immigration a major political issue—something many Americans were concerned about but which elites had avoided.”
Kaufmann also noted that longstanding issues like racial preferences in affirmative action were finally being openly debated. He expressed mixed feelings about Trump’s attacks on universities but suggested that some government pressure could force necessary reflection about free speech and ideological diversity in academia.
Pippa Norris: A Shock to the System
Pippa Norris emphasized that Trump’s most significant impact has been to expose vulnerabilities in American democratic institutions:
“If there has been a good positive development, it’s been the shock to liberals who often took institutions and the rules of the game for granted.”
Norris argued that Trump’s presidency revealed the urgent need for reforms:
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Campaign finance regulation
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Supreme Court appointments
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Electoral integrity reforms like ranked-choice voting
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Strengthening congressional independence
“Every crisis is an opportunity,” she said, urging Americans to rethink and fortify democratic norms and structures.
Jan-Werner Müller: Populism’s Authoritarian Danger
Jan-Werner Müller offered a sharply different perspective, arguing that populism’s inherent danger cannot be overlooked:
“Populists claim they—and only they—represent the real people,” Müller said. “That gives them license to treat opponents as enemies, undermining democracy itself.”
While he acknowledged that some populist complaints were valid, Müller stressed that America’s existing political system already allowed space for debates on immigration, inequality, and university reform without resorting to authoritarian populism.
“It’s not that populists introduced new issues,” he said, “it’s how they undermine democratic processes while doing so.”
Small Group Discussion
After the panelists spoke, audience members broke into small groups to discuss their reactions.
A major discussion point was whether American democracy is resilient enough to withstand ongoing populist pressures, and whether reforms to institutions like the electoral system are necessary to protect democratic stability.
Panel Reflection: Is U.S. Democracy Resilient?
Eric Kaufmann: American Institutions Remain Strong
Kaufmann expressed optimism:
“I think the U.S. system is resilient. You have Congress, the courts, federalism—many pressure points to check radicalism.”
He also noted that cross-cutting political identities prevent a full partisan realignment.
Pippa Norris: Complacency Is Dangerous
Norris was less optimistic, warning that Americans’ historical lack of experience with authoritarianism could breed complacency:
“Because Americans have never lived through authoritarian rule, they assume democracy will just continue. But that’s dangerous.”
She stressed the importance of reinvigorating civic culture and voluntary associations.
Jan-Werner Müller: The Risk of Institutional Erosion
Müller pointed out that damage to democratic institutions—even if temporary—leaves lasting scars:
“Even if populists are voted out, it’s very hard to fully restore trust and rebuild what has been damaged.”
Final Thoughts: Has Populism Changed America Permanently?
The panelists reflected on the deeper, long-term effects of populism:
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Pippa Norris warned that Trump’s disruption of the rules-based liberal international order could be a lasting legacy, fundamentally weakening U.S. global leadership.
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Eric Kaufmann countered that American populism has appeared before—and that much depends on how leaders respond.
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Jan-Werner Müller emphasized that deep structural problems, such as media fragmentation and polarization, could permanently alter American political culture.
Closing Reflections: Could Democrats Have Their Own Populist Movement?
In the final discussion, the panelists considered whether Democrats could channel populist energy without embracing populism’s authoritarian tendencies:
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Eric Kaufmann suggested economic populism, à la Bernie Sanders, could be effective without turning illiberal.
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Pippa Norris emphasized the need for fresh leadership, an anti-corruption agenda, and a new positive vision rooted in democratic values.
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Jan-Werner Müller warned against adopting populist tactics:
“Anything that sounds like restoring ‘normalcy’ or mere technocratic governance won’t work—but neither should Democrats embrace the same dangerous populist style.”
Brent Nelsen concluded by thanking the panelists and audience, encouraging participants to continue thoughtful, civil discourse.