Populism, the Illusion of Participation, and the Hope of Self Governance

In America's Emerging Fascist Economy, Charlotte Twight (1975) argued that the United States was evolving into a fascist economy. A key feature of the American economic system, she noted, is that it includes a variety of political engagements and rituals to create the illusion of participation by the masses, resulting in "participatory fascism." One way to understand the rise of populist sentiments is as a reaction by the citizenry to the erosion of perceived participation. The key question then becomes: Can populism serve as an effective response-one that breaks the illusion and genuinely provides ordinary people with meaningful participation in governance? To answer this question we draw on the fields of constitutional political economy, social choice theory, and public choice economics. We argue that populism does not resolve the dual epistemic and incentive challenges necessary for success. Hope for change is to be found in a self-governing polity where participants reconceptualizes their understanding of democracy and their role as citizens in governance.

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