Each word, populism, peace, and security, has multiple meanings, which are sometimes contradictory. For example, populism may be leftist, referring to advancing the interests and concerns of the common people and in opposition to domination or control by elites. Or populism may be rightist, referring to advancing the interests of a dominant ethnicity or ideology and often including authoritarian rule. Peace may refer to either harmonious, positive relations or to the simple absence of violence or repression with one-sided domination. Security also has varying references, including national security, personal feelings of security, human security, or one-sided security based on the other side’s insecurity. This article examines major aspects of the complex relations among the diverse meanings of the three concepts, giving particular attention to populism. The article analyzes the current American domestic situation, focusing on U.S. President Donald Trump and his administration’s actions. It examines the consequences of those actions and of various kinds of populism for the United States´ peace and security. It also analyzes Americans’ resistance to Trumpist actions and to rightist populism, focusing on how progressive citizen engagement could better advance Americans’ peace and security.
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