Depending on how you define populism, it could be akin to conservatism (defending the rights and values of the common people).
However, it is more often defined as defending the "little guy" against the "elites." Of course, in this context, elites are defined as the "evil rich," not the government/media/academia that believes it needs to curtail the freedom of the little guy for his own good.
In this more common definition of populism, it is almost indistinguishable from modern liberalism (which is actually a less aggressive form of Marxism).
Which brings me to a report from the Media Research Center illustrating how the "mainstream" media always knows who the conservatives are but never sees any liberals.
From a New York Times piece by Robin Toner about how "populism" is behind Democrat economic troublemaking:
"On Capitol Hill and on the presidential campaign trail, Democrats are increasingly moving toward a full-throated populist critique of the current economy.
"Clearly influenced by some of their most successful candidates in last year's Congressional elections, Democrats are talking more and more about the anemic growth in American wages and the negative effects of trade and a globalized economy on American jobs and communities. They deplore what they call a growing gap between the middle class, which is struggling to adjust to a changing job market, and the affluent elites who have prospered in the new economy. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton, Democrat of New York, calls it 'trickle-down economics without the trickle.'
"Populism is hardly new in the Democratic Party. Al Gore vowed to fight for 'the people versus the powerful' in his presidential campaign seven years ago, and Republicans have long accused the Democrats of practicing 'class warfare.'
"But the latest populist resurgence is deeply rooted in a view that current economic conditions are difficult and deteriorating for many people, analysts say, and it is now framing debates over tax policy, education, trade, energy and health care. Last week, Senate Democrats held hearings on proposals to raise taxes on some of the highest fliers on Wall Street, the people at the top of private equity and hedge fund firms."
Now why would the "mainstream" media not use the term "liberal" here instead of "populist" since far more people know just what liberalism represents? Well, exactly because people do understand the term "liberalism" better than "populist."
Just like the stealth term "progressive," it's how they tell you about liberal initiatives without admitting it's a liberal initiative.
How sad it must be to have to disguise what you believe in.
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