Contemporary Populists in Power

Populism is on the rise, and academic studies on populism are increasing. This book focuses on populists in government, particularly in Europe, Latin America, the Middle East, Asia, and the United States. Populists have been in power in many countries, resulting in authoritarianism and attacks on institutions. Democratic resilience has prevailed in some rare cases.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 316 pages
Publication date: 02 March 2023
Publisher: Springer Nature Switzerland AG

Populism is a growing phenomenon, and academic studies on populism are expanding in response. The study of populism has traditionally focused on how its spokespersons have acted as an opposition force, particularly in Western countries. While discourses and practices of populists protesting still hold significance, this volume shifts the attention to populists in government positions. The most remarkable development of the past decade is the rise of many populists to power, both in Europe and other regions worldwide. This book aims to pioneer geographical and analytical perspectives on this phenomenon. In addition to Europe and Latin America, where populism is well-established, populists are currently or have recently held office in the Middle East (Turkey, Israel), Asia (India, Thailand, the Philippines, Pakistan, Sri Lanka), and the United States. In many cases, their rule has resulted in authoritarianism, giving rise to a new regime that combines elections, which populists need to nurture their legitimacy, with attacks against institutions responsible for checks and balances, including the judiciary. While most populist rulers have consolidated their power, democratic resilience has occasionally prevailed in rare instances.

Weight: 435g
Dimension: 210 x 148 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9783030840815
Edition number: 1st ed. 2022