Populism, Punishment and the Threat to Democratic Order: The Return of the Strong Men

The book explores the rise of contemporary populism in Western democracies, tracing its origins to penal populism in the early 1990s and its transformation into a more wide-ranging populist politics. It examines the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these forces and argues that the pandemic can be seen as an 'antidote to populism,' providing the conditions in which scientific and medical expertise, truth-telling, government intervention, and social solidarity are revalorised.

Format: Hardback
Length: 106 pages
Publication date: 22 March 2023
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

This comprehensive book delves into the rise of contemporary populism in Western democracies, marked by the resurgence of would-be strong men politicians. It aims to unravel the nature, origins, and far-reaching consequences of their ascendancy, as exemplified by the remarkable surge of the social movement surrounding figures like Trump in the US, Brexit in the UK, and the widespread adoption of ideologies that challenge the authority of facts, science, and expertise.

Uniquely, the book explores how what initially started as a form of penal populism in the early 1990s evolved into a more comprehensive populist politics. This transformation has the potential to weaken or even undermine the democratic order entirely. It examines the profound impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on these forces, arguing that it provided a crucial lifeline to the faltering democratic order, as witnessed by Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine.

The book posits that contemporary political populism can be understood as a broader manifestation of the earlier tropes and appeal of penal populism that emerged under neo-liberalism. The author meticulously traces this cross-over and the underlying roots of discontent, anxiety, anti-elite sentiment, and a sense of being forgotten that fuel populism. Additionally, the book delves into the consequences of populism, including climate denial, the spread of "fake news," othering, nativism, and the denigration of scientific and other forms of expertise.

In a highly relevant and groundbreaking extension to the field, the author suggests that the current COVID pandemic might serve as an "antidote to populism," creating the conditions where scientific and medical expertise, truth-telling, government intervention in the economy and health policy, and social solidarity are revalued.

Spanning numerous subject areas and transcending traditional disciplinary boundaries, this book offers a profound exploration of the complex dynamics driving contemporary populism. It sheds light on the challenges facing democratic societies and provides valuable insights into the potential pathways for rebuilding trust, promoting inclusivity, and fostering a more informed and responsible public discourse.

Weight: 262g
Dimension: 143 x 224 x 13 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781032202457