Could a counter-populism defeat Trump?
Trump’s reelection personified a profound sense of disempowerment and disenfranchisement among many Americans. The constitutional patriotism that once anchored the nation’s cultural fabric is eroding, leaving citizens feeling that the boundaries of belonging no longer provide the support or cohesion they need. This void has been filled by inflammatory rhetoric and the scapegoating of migrants and minorities, reducing public discourse to a cacophony of accusations. What steps can the Left take to address these demands directly? Is there a path for populism to find a home on the Left, or has the idea of solidarity been irrevocably claimed by an ethnonationalist movement?
In response to this pivotal moment, we convened a roundtable discussion on December 12 with four prominent political thinkers—Seyla Benhabib, James D. Hunter, Ivan Krastev, and Michael Sandel. They shared their perspectives on the state of the U.S. deliberative process and considered the prospects for a “more perfect Union” in this time of profound uncertainty.
Cover photo: American national flags are left at the Democratic Party gathering venue of Howard University where Vice President Kamala Harris concedes her defeat in the presidential election in Washington, D.C., United States of America on November 7, 2024. (Photo by Kohei Choji / The Yomiuri Shimbun via AFP)
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