rivka

While I'd agree with your definition as applied to the Populist Party which existed back in the late 19th and early 20th century, I was thinking more along the lines of populist politics in general, going back at least to the Roman republic. The first and second triumvirates were almost exactly what you described when you wrote about oligarchs in role camoflage.

For further discussion of this, why don't you come on over to my journal, where I've made a similar post. I don't want to hijack Rivka's journal.