Navigating Populism in America: Unveiling the Socioeconomic and Ideological Roots of Populist Attitudes

Yujin J. Jung

Social Science Quarterly, 2025, vol. 106, issue 2

Abstract: Objectives This study investigates the socioeconomic and ideological factors that are associated with populist attitudes in the United States. Specifically, it examines the influence of demographic factors such as age and religious affiliation, alongside economic perceptions, while also exploring the ideological alignment of populist attitudes with conservative and progressive issue stances. Methods The analysis utilizes original survey data collected from a nationally representative sample of U.S. respondents. Employing a combination of ordinary least squares regression and factor analysis, the study evaluates the interrelationships between key socioeconomic indicators, ideological orientations, and populist sentiments. Results The analysis reveals that populist attitudes are strongly associated with conservative issues such as opposition to immigration, support for gun rights, and abortion restrictions. Among socioeconomic predictors, Christian affiliation emerges as one of the significant socioeconomic predictors of populist attitudes. In contrast, populist attitudes show no substantial association with progressive issues like healthcare expansion, environmental policies, or United States involvement in Ukraine. Conclusion The findings suggest that populism at the mass level in the United States is predominantly aligned with right‐wing issues, rather than left‐wing ones. This alignment indicates that populist attitudes in the United States reinforce ideological divides, particularly around conservative policy positions.

Date: 2025
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