Wisdom of Crowds Why are Charismatic Demagogues So Attractive?
Dec 15, 2025
Nils Gilman, an intellectual historian and editor specializing in modern politics, joins the discussion to explore why some political movements, like Trump’s nationalism, resonate more than others, such as climate action. He delves into the decline of communal structures and institutions, linking them to increasing social alienation. Gilman also examines the role of charisma in political mobilization, debating the need for compelling narratives to unite societies and inspire collective action in today's fragmented world.
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Two Traditions In U.S. Foreign Policy
- American foreign policy splits into Atlanticism (global partnership) and Americanism (turning away from Europe toward hemisphere focus).
- The Trump National Security Strategy revives the older Americanist tradition opposing EU-style legalist governance.
Why The NSS Targets The EU
- The NSS targets the European Union's legalist, rules-based conflict resolution rather than European nation-states themselves.
- That antagonism ties to cultural resistance against multiculturalism and a preference for sovereign national identities.
Institutional Decline Breeds Alienation
- Participation in religion and other institutions has collapsed in Europe, eroding pre-political social bonds.
- That institutional decline produces radical alienation when economic mobility stalls.