Echo-chamber: the global rise of populism

In recent years, the appeal of populism has grown worldwide with mounting public discontent over the status quo. There is an increasing sense that governments, business elites and parts of the media ignore legitimate popular concerns. Particularly in the West, many people have come to perceive the effects of technological change, economic globalization and international migration as threats to their ways of life and – sometimes – livelihoods. Populists claim to address these concerns, to speak for "the people", and to know easy solutions to the complex challenges confronting modern societies. As a consequence, they exclude all those who do not agree with their views or agenda, frame critical media coverage as "fake news", and thereby reject pluralism, free-speech and equality. Their followers are often caught in an ‘information bubble’ populated only by like-minded opinions and perspectives. With well-known experts and practitioners on hand, this discussion addresses how democracies and the media should best deal with populists, how to break through the "information bubble" and, in particular, how to counter their claims to speak for "the people".