Why is far-right populism on the rise? Political economist Gabriele Gratton has a controversial theory: For decades, technocrats moved policy decisions — on austerity, climate, and more — away from the realm of mass politics and toward independent authorities, courts, and experts. The result? A populist backlash fueled by the desire to reassert control over policy.
In Gratton’s telling, the populist backlash isn’t irrational; it’s a democratic response to elite failure. But his prescription isn’t to abandon liberalism. This conversation explores how we got here and whether liberal democracy can course-correct before it’s too late.
The Argument is a podcast dedicated to honest, unflinching debate about the biggest questions facing democracy, culture, and our future. As the host, Editor-in-Chief Jerusalem Demsas brings together voices across the political spectrum to argue, challenge, and persuade. Each episode is a space where disagreements are confronted directly, with clarity and conviction, rather than hidden or shouted down.
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Show notes:
Articles by Gabriele Gratton about democratic backsliding:
Explanation of the Second Welfare Theorem, which posits that a perfectly efficient allocation of resources can be achieved purely through market forces if the initial endowments are suitably and accurately distributed: Harvard lecture
“Markets and Freedoms: Achievements and Limitations of the Market Mechanism in Promoting Individual Freedoms,” Amartya Sen essay wherein he emphasized the importance of the redistributive element of the Second Welfare Theorem. Princeton link
Literature on China Shock: NBER working paper, CATO Institute article
Comparison of biggest TV news viewership figures to those of Joe Rogan’s podcast: Insideradio article
Coverage of Trump saying immigrants are eating cats and dogs: BBC News article, PBS article, NBC News article
Coverage of European countries legislating budgetary restraints into existence, such as those saying that the deficit must not be greater than a certain percentage of GDP: European Commission explanation, Bruegel policy brief
Oliver Kim article on how austerity measures led to the rise of the Nazis in Germany: The Argument article
Coverage of class politics and majoritarianism leading to political instability in Argentina: Council on Foreign Relations article
Coverage of preoccupation with demographics held by people like Elon Musk and JD Vance: NPR article, The Guardian article, The Hill article
Profile of former Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who like Trump, was known for using controversial comments to portray himself as a “man of the people.” CNN article
Jerusalem Demsas article pitching DEI initiatives for conservatives: The Argument article
Gabriele Gratton’s annoying takeTM: The idea that all theories must be aimed at empirically testable predictions. Michigan Technological University post, Ian Shapiro book
