Politics & Polls: The Centrist Paradox

The United States and Europe have seen a rise in outsider political movements, with more voters supporting populist authoritarian leaders who buck traditional cultural values than in the recent past.

In this episode, Sam Wang interviews researcher and writer David R. K. Adler, who argues, contrary to contemporary belief, that centrists — not those on the political left and right extremes — are the driving force behind this hostility toward democracy.

Adler explains how this “centrist paradox” may be influencing elections, weakening democratic institutions and sharpening political divides. CONT.

Sam Wang, Woodrow Wilson School

https://soundcloud.com/woodrowwilsonschool/politics-polls-101-the-centrist-paradox