Populism and Elitism

Political analyst Bell does not convince with his sweeping claim that a struggle between populists and elitists has replaced the old political division of liberal vs. conservative. This dense, intermittently illuminating treatise reinterprets the whole course of civilization, from the ancient Greek city-state to the New Deal, as a contest between populist and elitist currents, then draws up a scorecard of U.S. presidential elections. A campaign strategist for Ronald Reagan and a former fellow at Harvard's Kennedy Institutenot at the Kennedy School of Government? CK/info as given to us by publisher, so stet.gs , Bell presents Reagan as ``the most completely populist president since Andrew Jackson,'' a champion of ideas opposed by elites. His thesis that ``values issues'' rather than conventional economic concerns are the driving force of political campaigns is colored by his view that journalism, entertainment, the arts and education are dominated by liberal elites that oppose traditional values. (May)