KERA's Think What elitists and populists have in common
Aug 13, 2025
Curtis Bram, a political scientist at The University of Texas at Dallas and author of "Elitism versus Populism," delves into the intricate dance between elitism and populism in modern politics. He explores whether politicians truly trust voters to make informed choices and discusses the implications of political polarization and gerrymandering. Bram challenges the notion that political elites are the true guardians of democracy, while also addressing how fear influences voter behavior and engagement. The conversation raises critical questions about representation and accountability in today's political landscape.
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Two Competing Views Of Democracy
- Elitists trust mainstream politicians and experts while populists trust majority rule and distrust elites.
- Curtis Bram frames both as competing views on who should protect democracy.
Test Motivation With Experiments
- Use randomized experiments to separate partisan incentives from genuine policy preferences.
- Bram tested politicians by randomizing whether reforms would benefit their own side.
Partisan Incentives Sway Decisions
- Politicians were 15–20% likelier to support election-manipulating policies when those policies benefited their side.
- Still, fewer than half overall supported such measures, leaving some room for restraint.
