In modern democracies around the world, there has been a rise in populist appeals that focus on “identity politics,” with a strong voting component based on race, religion, ethnicity and/or national identity. This phenomenon influenced the election of President Donald Trump, the Brexit vote, the support for Marine Le Pen in France and the rise of right-wing parties across Europe. Why is this occurring, and what are the consequences?

Drawing on his recently published book, Exclusion by Elections: Inequality, Ethnic Identity and Democracy, political science professor John Huber will discuss how the rise of identity-based populism can be linked to the parallel rise of economic inequality around the world. Huber will talk about this dynamic, its implications and ways we might address rising inequality in the world today.