First thoughts on reconciliation and 'populism'

Dialogues are currently going on in the ecumenical movement about the church's response to so-called 'populism'. For example, the Conference of European Church recently had a conference on what "clergy could and should do about" populism when they encounter it at parish level.

In January 2020 the Nordic Faith & Order meeting will have a similar conference in Oslo, as the theme of the WCC general Assembly 2021 is "Christ ́s love moves the world to reconciliation and unity" and "Churches
responding to populism and polarisation". As I plan to participate in Oslo, here are my initial thoughts on the issues of "reconcilation and populism":

First of all I think we should consider whether we should use the term 'populism' or whether there might not be more appropriate terms, thinking, not least, of the complexity of what we are dealing with. Moreover, the term 'populism' is clearly derogative -- I mean, how many would actually describe themselves or their politics as 'populist'? A few, maybe, but most of those who are often described so, do not identify with the term.

The problem is that by framing the whole matter using deragotory terms, we have already made a value judgment without even starting to listen. Doing so will only contribute to the feeling that has sparked much of the so-called populism, namely that the elite is not even willing to listen to the worries and needs of 'common people' (another problematic term, of course). If what we seek is reconciliation (a popular term in the oecumenical movement!), decribing political movements with terms that are not helpful, but are even experienced as derogatory, is definitely not the way to go.

Reconciliation only comes by listening, i.e. asking for the reasons and arguments put forward by the respective movements. This does not mean, of course, that we should not criticize certain political movements, if we find them problematic, but we need to do so on an enligthened foundation. Much indicate that the rise of, e.g. national conservatism in many countries, has to do with a failure of liberal and social-democratic parties to deal with the problems addressed by these movements.

Again, if we are seeking reconciliation we should engage in dialogue, not name-calling. As Christ taught us, reconciliation can only take place if we work to make even our enemies our friends.