by David Frum
First published 2019
The stage is set at the twenty-third semi-annual Munk Debate on November 2, 2018. Stephen Bannon, who ran Donald Trump's presidential campaign, squares off against columnist David Frum in a battle over liberalism's fate against populism's rise. Western politics faces upheaval as populist movements challenge established ideas about government, trade policy, economics, foreign relations, and immigration. Bannon argues this populist surge represents a lasting transformation in political power. Frum counters that populism remains a temporary disruption that will fade to society's margins. Their clash centers on whether future politics will follow the post-war consensus supporting trade, inclusive identity, and globalization, or bow to insurgent populist parties and leaders. The debate captures the tension between two competing visions for democracy's direction.
Genres: political-science, politics, non-fiction, 21st-century, current-affairs, academic
Vibes: intimate, suspenseful, thought-provoking
Tropes: enemies-to-lovers
Setting: United States
Period: 2018
144 pages · Paperback · House of Anansi Press