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Dr. Palmer emphasized that the danger isn’t just policy-related, it’s that authoritarian populism takes a sledgehammer to the very fundamental framework of free societies.
The essence of authoritarian populism is the advocacy of national unity instead of individual rights, and replacing a rules-based culture with one based on will and power.
It’s antithetical to the core values of liberty.
Even populism in general is anti-pluralistic, always centered on a divisive “us vs. them” mentality.
A populist movement chooses an enemy for the purpose of uniting its followers, unconcerned if it means sacrificing freedom, and centralizing power, along the way.
Fortunately, authoritarian populism has a weakness.
As Dr. Palmer points out, the most powerful remedy is to cultivate a respect for the freedom and dignity inherent in every individual, and to resist the urge to give in to hatred.
Simply put, authoritarian populism can’t grow if you don’t join in on hating the proclaimed enemy.
Dr. Palmer has been one of the leading voices recognizing the importance of human dignity in the pursuit of individual freedom. He’s always traveling the world spreading this message, and we were with him two weeks ago at our Europe Liberty Forum in Madrid, Spain.
In 2022, he teamed up with Atlas Network President Matt Warner to write Development with Dignity, a book offering practical guidelines for global development that argues autonomy and human dignity unleash innovation unlike anything else.
After checking out his Cornerstone Talk, come back and grab your free copy here.
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