As the tried and true political axiom goes “in every crisis lies opportunity” but for whom, populists or their opponents? In recent crises, we have seen a surge in support for populists in nations on both sides of the Atlantic. The Covid-19 pandemic has wrought a global crisis of previously unimaginable economic and social consequence but are populists having a good crisis? Will we emerge from a pandemic that has accelerated the recent strengthening of populists or will the political landscape shift against those populists? On both sides of the Atlantic, the Presidential elections in 2020 give mixed signals to the success of incumbent populists with President Duda extending his term and President Trump's loss to President-elect Biden. Looking to the future, who will make the most out of this crisis?

Speakers:

Sheri Berman - Professor of Political Science, Barnard College, Columbia University

Thomas Kleine-Brockhoff - Vice President, GMF

Yasha Mounk - Senior Fellow, GMF

Susan Glasser (Moderator) - Staff Writer, The New Yorker