I'd agree with that argument lax anti-trust is a problem and emblematic of a broader imbalance. "Populism", as we're using it today, exploits that imbalance. Even if it offers poor solutions, it has power because the "status quo" doesn't acknowledge the existence of any structural problems- it wasn't able to in the wake of the financial crisis, then you add the ME wars and cultural things like the advance of technology, social isolation, etc... things get combustible. Basically, if things overall were baseline acceptable we wouldn't see a Trump here or what's going on in Europe.

The Brexit conversation fits right in- cooperation between nations and tight economic bonds has historically been good for peace, but the EU as a form of governance has failed in very real ways, and has been unable to adopt reforms to address/ameliorate those failures. (Talking specifically EU here not NATO or international cooperation in general.) I don't think Brexit is any answer to that ultimate challenge, but the status quo failed, and hoping for a return to it is not realistic imo. There has to be some sort of alternative that does a better job on balance of accommodating all these disparate interests without the nastier elements/proposals of a lot of what falls under "populism", I certainly have no clue what that is.