So many of the forces who have caused such elite lamentation have been given an opening by migration politics. Elite moderation on immigration would seem a plausible way of lessening populist angst.
Merkel's extremist refugee policy probably pushed Brexit over the top, gave life to the AfD, and has empowered populists across the continent.
Many top GOP 2016 contenders basically operated within confines of 2012 GOP "autopsy," which gave Trump a clear opening in primary. Likewise, Clinton's maximalist approach turned off Rust Belt voters.
Some folks, like @davidfrum, get how much a threat immigration maximalism poses to existing international order. theatlantic.com/politics/archi…
But so many seem caught in this cycle where they warn about utter catastrophe if things continue and then refuse to take moderate policy steps that would change polical dynamic.
Populists have gained power in West for a number of reasons. One of them is that elites have tried to wall off certain areas from democratic debate. This has given populists a free hand.
