Definitions for "Populism"
The political doctrines advocated by the People's party.
the term was originally used to describe political movements in Europe at the end of nineteenth century that appealed to the rural poor. In the U.S. the Populist Party was formed in 1890 as a protest movement by farmers and laborers; it functioned until 1908. The term is now used to describe mass political movements, or a party platform that purports to represent a populist sentiment, usually understood as the collective voice of the ordinary person on social and economic issues.
the political doctrine that supports the rights and powers of the common people in their struggle with the privileged elite
In the American context, an ideology that favors government intervention in economic affairs and may oppose expansion of some "liberal" personal freedoms. See also liberalism.
"In Latin America, populism has encompassed many forms, but all have shared qualities of being urban-based, multiclass coalitional, hierarchical, cooptive, ad hoc, and nonrevolutionary, led by ebullient (if not charismatic) figures who promised to redress popular grievances and to build social solidarity." They "are nationalistic in character but often have no consistent ideology or agenda; rather, they often adopt a range of issues to fit the needs of the times." Populist leaders include Juan Perón in Argentina, Getúlio Vargas in Brazil, Lázaro Cárdenas in Mexico, and José María Velasco Ibarra in Ecuador.
Keywords:  virtues, wisdom, belief, people, rights
a belief in the rights, wisdom, or virtues of the common people.