Is the pandemic changing our view of populist leaders?

The US election has led Dr Kesi Mahendran, a social and political psychologist at the OU, to shed new light on this crucially important vote and specifically its headline player Donald Trump.

Her team’s research focuses on the public conversation between leaders and their citizens, the rise of populism and asks whether COVID-19 is changing the narrative.

In a special BBC programme during the week of the elections, she talks about the issues raised.

Dr Mahendran says the arrival of the pandemic has led to the public becoming increasingly disenchanted with the “us and them” techniques used by populist leaders:

“The heightened psychological uncertainties created by the pandemic has revealed the value of less narcissistic more moderate leaders working through dialogue and representative democracy.

“The timing of the US elections could be a significant political event that may just call time on the divisive anti-politics techniques of populist leaders.“

Listen to Dr Mahendran and others debate these issues with presenter Dr Anita Shaw on the programme Vote for Me: The Science of Personality Politics on BBC Radio Wales.

Find out more about OU research in sociology