September 29, 2017
“Populism and its critics”: a symposium.
A conference with New Criterion editors and contributors.
Please join the editors of The New Criterion for a day-long conference with Members of London’s Social Affairs Unit on “Populism and its critics: how conservatives should respond to the populist challenge.
The term “populist” has been applied to charismatic leaders who appeal directly to the people, over the heads of patrician elites: a broad range of leaders, from Julius Caesar to Adolf Hitler, have borne the moniker. No useful purpose is served by comparing Donald Trump to Andrew Jackson, Teddy Roosevelt, or anybody else. His presidency doesn’t mean that American democracy is in danger, any more than Brexit means that Britain has succumbed to xenophobia. Nevertheless, populism does pose serious challenges to conservatives. There is the risk that the attack on new progressive elites will be used to attack all elites. Our conference proposes to ask how conservatives should respond to the challenges of the new politics.
We hope you will be able to join us for this timely discussion. Participants will include David Azerrad, Jeremy Black, Chris Buskirk, Douglas Carswell, Michael Gleba, Philip Hamburger, Daniel Johnson, Roger Kimball, Andrew C. McCarthy, Christopher Montgomery, Michael Mosbacher, George Nash, and James Piereson.
RSVP to Andrew Shea ([email protected] or 212.247.6980) for more information.