Populism and Liberal Democracy: A Comparative and Theoretical Analysis

Takis S. Pappas (Author)

Publisher: OUP Oxford | Publication Date: April 2, 2019 | ISBN-13: 978-0192574909

This groundbreaking book provides the first comprehensive theory of populism during both its emergence and consolidation phases in three key geographical regions: Europe, Latin America, and the United States. Through a detailed comparison of significant populist governments—including Argentina, Greece, Peru, Italy, Venezuela, Ecuador, Hungary, and the U.S.—as well as two cases of populist failure (Spain and Brazil), each of the book’s seven chapters addresses critical questions about populism: What is populism? How to distinguish populists from non-populists? What causes populism? How and where does populism thrive? How do populists govern? Who is the populist voter? And how does populism endanger democracy?

The author argues that, if rising populism poses a threat to liberal democratic politics—as this book clearly demonstrates—it can only be successfully resisted by answering these questions. This thorough analysis offers invaluable insights into the nature and implications of populism in contemporary political landscapes.