Populism and democracy: Lessons from the US and Indonesia

January 10, 2025

JAKARTA – As the United States approaches the inauguration of its next president, the political resonance of Donald Trump’s return remains a focal point of global discussions on democracy. Trump’s political resurrection is not merely a reflection of voter frustration; it signals deeper structural issues in contemporary governance.

The parallels between Trump’s resurgence and historical instances of populism, such as Louis Bonaparte’s rise to power, offer an intriguing perspective. Karl Marx famously derided Louis Bonaparte as a “grotesque mediocrity”, an adventurer concealing his flaws behind the “iron death mask of Napoleon”. In The Eighteenth Brumaire of Louis Bonaparte, Marx detailed how societal conditions and class struggles paved the way for improbable figures to ascend to power. This dynamic, as Peter Winn-Brown highlights in The Second Coming: Part One—The Resurrection, mirrors Trump’s political career and resurgence.

Winn-Brown’s analysis, published on Medium on Dec. 2, critiques Trump’s return while drawing parallels to global populist trends, including those in Indonesia. These comparisons invite deeper reflection on the mechanisms of populist power and its impact on democratic systems.

Trump’s appeal, as Winn-Brown asserts, lies in his ability to exploit cultural and economic grievances. This narrative of victimhood and rebellion against elites mirrors trends in Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia, where populist rhetoric has significantly shaped political campaigns. Political theorist Cas Mudde describes populism as a response to “pathological normalcy,” where democratic systems fail to address inequality and social alienation.

Indonesia’s 2019 presidential election revealed similar dynamics.