A clear-eyed guide to demagoguery--and how we can defeat it
What is demagoguery? Some demagogues are easy to spot: They rise to power through pandering, charisma, and prejudice. But, as professor Patricia Roberts-Miller explains, a demagogue is anyone who reduces all questions to us vs. them.
Why is it dangerous? Demagoguery is democra�cy's greatest threat. It erodes rational debate, so that intelligent policymaking grinds to a halt. The idea that we never fall for it--that all the blame lies with them--is equally dangerous.
How can we stop it? Demagogues follow pre�dictable patterns in what they say and do to gain power. The key to resisting demagoguery is to name it when you see it--and to know where it leads.