Laurenz Guenther on the Representation Gap in Politics
From The Good Fight by Yascha Mounk
May 5, 2026 · 57 min
About this episode
Yascha Mounk and Laurenz Guenther discuss the representation gap between political elites and ordinary voters on cultural issues and its implications for populism in Western democracies.
Yascha Mounk and Laurenz Guenther discuss why ordinary voters and political elites disagree on immigration, crime, and social issues. Laurenz Guenther is a political economist at the Toulouse School of Economics and a Fellow at the Institute for European Policymaking at Bocconi University. His research and Substack focus on representation, populism, and immigration in Western democracies. In this week’s conversation, Yascha Mounk and Laurenz Guenther discuss why there’s a massive representation gap between political elites and voters on cultural issues, how this explains the rise of populist parties like the AfD in Germany, and whether new parties can successfully occupy the economically left but socially conservative political space. If you have not yet signed up for our podcast, please do so now by following this link on your phone. Email: leonora.barclay@persuasion.community Podcast production by Mickey Freeland and Leonora Barclay. Connect with us! Spotify | Apple | Google X: @Yascha_Mounk & @JoinPersuasion YouTube: Yascha Mounk, Persuasion LinkedIn: Persuasion Community Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
People in this episode
Host: Yascha Mounk
Guest: Laurenz Guenther
Topics covered
- representation gap
- political elites
- populism
- immigration
- cultural issues
- voter disagreement
Keywords
- representation
- politics
- populist parties
- social issues
- immigration
- voters
- political economy
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Toulouse School of Economics, Institute for European Policymaking, Bocconi University, AfD
More episodes of The Good Fight
- Rebecca Haw Allensworth on How Professional Licenses are Rigging the Game for Insiders · June 9, 2026 · 49 min
- Steve Stewart-Williams on Sex Differences and Human Nature · June 6, 2026 · 60 min
- Jeremiah Johnson on Why Gen Z Isn’t Actually Doomed · June 2, 2026 · 49 min
- Kathryn Paige Harden on How Genetics Shapes Human Behavior · May 30, 2026 · 1h 4m
- H.W. Brands on the Making of George Washington · May 26, 2026 · 1h 17m
- James Traub on Why American Classrooms Are Failing Democracy · May 23, 2026 · 54 min
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the The Good Fight podcast page.