In 2016, Year Zero of modern politics, much was read into the fact that it was the nations of Reagan and Thatcher that fell to the populists. A theory took shape. Decades of Anglo-liberalism had created deindustrialised towns, precarious middle-earners and a lavish, self-dealing overclass. Hence the revolt. Brexit and Donald Trump were the wages of laissez-faire.

This was always a tenuous explanation for public anger (why did the affluent home counties vote Brexit?) but a serviceable holding position until contradicting evidence showed up.

Well, behold it. Rightwing populism is ascendant in France, which might be the least economically liberal country in the rich world. Government spending there accounts for well over half of national output. The component that goes on social protection — cash benefits and so on — is likewise OECD-topping. On the other side of the Alps, the Italian state is not far behind on either overall or social spending. The hard right is not just successful there. It is the power in the land. Meanwhile, in Australia, where the government is smaller, the mainstream political parties are holding up. The centre-left governs.