But the two are so radically different, how can they share the label of populism?

但桑德斯與川普的立場有如天壤之別，怎麼會同時有「民粹主義」的稱號呢？

What does it mean to be populist?

究竟什麼樣的人會被稱為民粹主義者呢？

Well, populism is the political belief that the underdog, hard working majority is undermined

民粹主義是一種政治理念，民粹主義者認為多數努力工作卻處於劣勢的人，受到

and exploited by a small, elite minority. Populist politicians claim to represent the

少數菁英族群剝削。身為民粹主義者的政治家宣稱，他們代表

interest of average or working class citizens, and work to unite the population against a common enemy.

多數中產階級和勞動階級的利益，並努力團結多數來對抗共同敵人

For right-leaning politicians like Trump, that’s immigrants and the Republican establishment.

像川普等右翼派治人物來說，要對抗的就是移民與原共和黨的主張

For leftist politicians like Sanders, it’s Wall Street, billionaires

像桑德斯等左派政治人物，要對抗的就是華爾街、富豪

and campaign finance laws.

與競選財務法

Throughout history, populist ideas have often coincided with charismatic demagogues, as

綜觀歷史，民粹主義者大多符合「富有魅力的煽動者」形象

these personality types are often successful at galvanizing the masses. In fact, one of

這些人格特質通常能成功煽動大眾。事實上，

the earliest populists was Julius Caesar, who undermined Rome’s ruling aristocrats

最早的民粹主義者之一就是凱薩大帝，瓦解羅馬貴族掌權

by appealing to the underrepresented working class. But populism isn’t necessarily good or bad.

藉由吸引比例代表不足的勞動階級支持。然而，民粹主義並無絕對好壞之分

Both FDR and Adolph Hitler were decisively populist politicians, by appealing to the

小羅斯福與希特勒都是公認的民粹主義政治人物，吸引

frustrations of their respective countries.

祖國已對目前體制失望的人民支持

Today, populist rhetoric is pervasive throughout the world. In Europe, it is generally more

如今，民粹主義者的言論遍布全球。在歐洲，「民粹主義者」一詞於意識形態權利領域

popular on the ideological right, which believes that socialist or left-leaning policies negate the collective will of the people.

較為常見，描述社會學者或左傾政策漠視多數民意

This was the idea behind the 2016 Brexit referendum,

此概念在二零一六年後英國脫歐公投後成形

as many working class Brits felt that globalization provided by EU membership was not to their benefit.

因為許多英國勞動階級覺得全球化使歐盟會員國得利，而不是英國人民

Similar populist sentiments have gained momentum throughout Europe in recent

歐洲在近幾年來，有許多類似的民粹主義情感開始興起

years, leading some experts to predict a string of other similar referendums and, perhaps, the gradual disintegration of the EU.

促使有些專家預測，會連帶引發其他歐洲國家公投，最後可能逐漸造成歐盟解體

In the US, however, populism is widespread. Liberal voters tend to resonate with issues

然而，在美國，民粹主義廣為盛行。心態較為開放的選民傾向支持

that affect the poor and working class, like income inequality. In fact, one of the most

影響貧困與勞動階級的議題政策，例如薪資不平等。事實上，近期最引人注目的

recent notable American populist movements was 2011’s Occupy Wall Street,

美國民粹主義遊行就是二零一一年的占領華爾街運動，

which blamed corporations and the wealthiest one percent of Americans for creating economic instability for the rest of the country.

痛斥公司財團與百分之一的有錢人對美國所造成的經濟不穩定

Conservatives like Trump, on the other hand, have used populist sentiments

另一方面，保守主義的代表，如川普，利用民粹情感

to tap into voters’ frustrations with bureaucrats and general distrust of the federal government.

打入選民市場，因為民眾已對現行官僚體制失望與不信任聯邦政府

For instance, the Tea Party Movement formed in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis as a protest against government overreach.

舉個例子，二零零八年全球金融風暴引發的茶黨遊行就是為了抗議政府大力擴權

So whether it be in the US or abroad, populist politicians tend to operate the same way.

所以無論是在美國本土或是其他國家，民粹政治人物有著相同的操作手法

That is, they choose a popular enemy, like the establishment, immigration or criminals,

也就是說，民粹人物選定攻擊的主要政敵，像是現行體制、移民或罪犯

and rally voters to get behind that cause. Oftentimes this has led to popular movements

並集結早已心生不滿的選民力量。多數情況，會導致抗議遊行

and legal reforms. Other times it has cultivated in widespread ultra-nationalism and nativism.

或是立法改革。其他情況，則是培養能廣泛流傳的極端民族主義與本土主義

Either way, populism is an extremely effective political tool.

無論如何，民粹主義是極為有效的政治手段