Do you think conditions in America today are similar to those that led to the populist movement in the past?

The socio-economic instability of the old middle classes, their desire to improve their situation as quickly and radically as possible, led to the growth of right-wing extremist movements. Structural changes in American society were accompanied by a crisis in the traditional value system, expressed by the "old" middle class. This led to a conflict between tradition and the forces behind it and the bearers of other values and ideological and political attitudes that were not traditional for the United States. In a situation of the collapse of traditional values, when there is no clear system of alternative values, right-wing extremist slogans are able to give the restless American temporary relief, support. Because the right always indicates who is to blame, they call for the establishment of lost ideals. The emotionality of the irrationality of political choice explains that politicians are popular among them, appealing not to reason, but to feelings.

A populist always says what public wants to hear from him - simple solutions to complex problems. The most striking example is Donald Trump and his campaign. Each message of Trump comes from certain problems of American society, which are largely connected by common roots - economic. The construction of the wall and the tightening of policies regarding migrants, protectionist measures against China and the transfer of production of American companies to the United States, lower income taxes - all this finds a response from the middle class, as it is aimed at creating and maintaining jobs, alleviating the financial burden.