This is a linkpost for https://open.substack.com/pub/josephheath/p/populism-fast-and-slow
The following is an AI-generated summary
Joseph Heath argues that existing academic definitions of populism—whether treating it as an ideology or merely an electoral strategy—are inadequate. He proposes understanding populism through the lens of dual-process cognitive theory (Kahneman's "fast and slow" thinking).
Populism is a political strategy that privileges intuitive cognition (System 1: fast, effortless, "common sense") over analytical reasoning (System 2: slow, effortful, requiring expertise). This creates a fundamental divide between "the people" who rely on intuition and "elites" who employ analytical thinking.
Many evolved cognitive intuitions work poorly in modern large-scale societies. For example:
When experts develop views contradicting these intuitions through analytical reasoning, it creates lasting resentment. Populist politicians exploit this gap by championing common sense views on issues where elite consensus is strongest.
Social media accelerates communication, favoring fast intuitive responses over slow analytical ones. It also removes elite gatekeepers, allowing direct appeals to popular intuition.
The rebellion is against cognitive elites, not economic ones. The left's progressive agenda requires more cognitive inhibition and control (e.g., language policing, navigating complex bureaucracies), intensifying the very burdens that fuel populist resentment.