The Populist Horizon: Julius Malema and the Case for Left-Populism

by Ant L.

Beginning with the recent arrest of Julius Malema, the founder and leader of South Africa’s Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF), this essay examines the widespread hostility to populism within left intellectual culture. Defining populism as a response to crisis within deteriorating democratic societies, Ant L. Argues that left-populism, despite its contradictions, is currently the most effective vehicle for mass political engagement. Instead of rejecting it out of hand, understanding the role of populism in our movement may be key to advancing to the next stage of our struggle.