Populism, Aristotle and Hope

In this Gresham College lecture, Rory Stewart explores the rapid collapse of the 1990s liberal democratic consensus, which was originally built on pillars of global optimism, free markets, and international cooperation. 

He details how transformative forces like social media, the 2008 financial crisis, and the rise of China’s authoritarian model shattered the long-held assumption that economic prosperity inevitably leads to democracy 

The talk highlights the decline of Western moral legitimacy following failures in Iraq and Afghanistan, which paved the way for modern populist movements characterized by extreme polarization and isolationism 

Stewart argues that the "boring" technocratic management of previous decades allowed populists to succeed by weaponizing humor and intense emotion (pathos) against a discredited elite. 

Finally, he proposes a path forward using Aristotelian virtues such as empathy, practical reason, and "Good Hope" to build a more grounded and courageous political future.