ABSTRACT
Populism undoubtedly has a long history in the politics of the United States, but this history is too often fuzzy around the edges. Additionally, what exactly is meant by “populism” is frequently ambiguous and ill-defined. Finally, who subscribes to populism is more often asserted than demonstrated, even in those instances where the phenomenon itself is relatively clearly identified and explained. Many of the same things can be said of nationalism in American politics. In this chapter I engage in thorough examinations of both populism and nationalism in American politics. All elements of American populism – its championing of the common people, its rural roots, its anti-elitism, anti-intellectualism, and anti-government views, and its religious and cultural dimensions – are explored. The content of American nationalism is similarly dissected, with an emphasis on how nationalism relates to populism. The chapter closes with an assessment of how American populism and nationalism help us to understand US politics in the time of President Donald Trump.
