Democratic cultures and populist imaginaries

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Until recently, populism was primarily associated with the radical right. However, left-wing populists in Spain's Podemos and the U.S. Democratic Party challenge the notion that populist sentiments are exclusive to reactionary factions. Historian Richard Hofstadter characterized right-wing populism in the 1960s as a manifestation of a "paranoid style" in politics, viewing it as a threat to democracy. In contrast, supporters of contemporary populist movements argue that they serve as a corrective to the contradictions within liberal democracy. This raises questions about the relationship between U.S. populist movements and American democracy. Can the concept of American democratic culture serve as a lens for interpreting and critiquing modern populisms? Have contemporary writers, artists, and activists envisioned democratic sociality that transcends existing populist narratives? Additionally, how has the fragmentation of media influenced Donald Trump's brand of populism? Are the analytical frameworks developed for understanding twentieth-century populism sufficient for grasping Trump's movement? The diverse yet interconnected perspectives of the contributors promise to deepen the understanding of these pressing issues.