Populism and the Trinidadian Carnival

A significant branch of populism in the twenty-first century is Cultural Populism. Cultural Populism, as commonly understood, explores elements of popular culture and their attempts to de-stabilize and challenge ‘elitist’ centers of power. Popular cultural practices are celebrated for their rootedness in the interests of the masses as against the interests of dominant groups in a society. This entry emphasizes that in contemporary times it becomes imperative to re- evaluate the nuances of populist elements in popular culture and this is discussed in the context of the Trinidadian Carnival.