Populism gets blamed for everything from polarization to democratic decay—but what if the louder story is a search for voice and belonging? We sit down with sociologist Frank Furedi to unpack why so many voters are breaking with legacy parties and why the energy behind these movements is less about recession and more about culture. From national identity and neighborly trust to the norms families rely on, we explore the deeper drivers that explain why reform-minded parties are rising across the West.

We trace how media fragmentation reshaped the battlefield. As old gatekeepers lost their monopoly, social and alternative outlets gave “outsiders” room to speak—and to find each other. Furedi highlights examples from the UK and Europe, including GB News’ surge and the growth of platforms that challenge the status quo. That shift helps explain both the momentum behind new movements and the fierce backlash to them, as cultural elites struggle to reassert legitimacy.

The conversation moves through the demographics of support—why towns and smaller cities, where people raise children and invest in place, often embrace cultural populism more than hyper-urban cores. We dig into whether a left version of populism can last, what happens when movements become bigger than parties, and how “common sense” doubles as both a set of taken-for-granted truths and a social glue. Furedi argues we’re not in a neat cycle; we’re in a new landscape with diffuse elites, weak class identity, and rising pre-ideological movements seeking a public language that feels real.

If you’re curious about why voters are rejecting legacy institutions, how culture outpaces economics in shaping allegiance, and what it would take to rebuild a shared civic conversation, this episode offers a grounded, hopeful lens. Subscribe, share with a friend who cares about the future of democracy, and leave a review to join the debate.

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This show is presented by the Chapman Center for Demographics and Policy, which focuses on research and analysis of global, national and regional demographic trends and explores policies that might produce favorable demographic results over time.