Populism
This book explores populism, a key concept in current political debates, clarifying its meaning and impact. It defines populism as an ideology that divides society into 'pure people' versus 'corrupt elite,' prioritizing the general will. The authors illustrate this through modern populist movements and examine the personalities of charismatic populist leaders, both male and female.
This book is widely considered a seminal work because it provides a clear, minimal definition of populism that has become influential in academic and public discourse, distinguishing it from related but distinct phenomena.
This book distills and refines many of the core arguments and conceptual frameworks that Cas Mudde has developed over his extensive career studying populism, serving as an accessible entry point to his broader body of work on the topic.
The book offers a global perspective, drawing examples from various continents and political systems to illustrate the diverse manifestations of populism, rather than concentrating solely on European or American contexts.