Though Brexit and the election of Donald Trump to the office of President of the US are two most notable events, they follow and express sentiments found globally. We see such movements through Europe, but also in figures like Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines. It is possible to similar forces shaping the Australian political scene. The return of Pauline Hanson is one obvious example, yet there is a more general tone soaking through government policy, including, for example, the stance taken on refugees.
To encapsulate the recent events in the UK and the USA in term like “political populism” risks reducing the complex of forces underlying the political decision to a monolithic movement. Such is not the intent here. This investigation identifies a range of contributing factors (migration, multiculturalism, racism, religion) and considers each using political and social science voices. Once we gain a broad picture of populism itself, and the range of issues underlying the political directions, the course turns to the potential theological resources. These focus especially on intercultural theology and hermeneutics as a way of broadening the perspectives underlying and feeding populism.