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Populism: A Very Short Introduction (Very Short Introductions) 2nd ed. Edition

4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 207 ratings

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Populism is a central concept in the current media debates about politics and elections. However, like most political buzzwords, the term often floats from one meaning to another, and both social scientists and journalists use it to denote diverse phenomena. What is populism really? Who are the populist leaders? And what is the relationship between populism and democracy? This book answers these questions in a simple and persuasive way, offering a swift guide to populism in theory and practice.

Cas Mudde and Cristóbal Rovira Kaltwasser present populism as an ideology that divides society into two antagonistic camps, the "pure people" versus the "corrupt elite," and that privileges the general will of the people above all else. They illustrate the practical power of this ideology through a survey of representative populist movements of the modern era: European right-wing parties, left-wing presidents in Latin America, and the Tea Party movement in the United States. The authors delve into the ambivalent personalities of charismatic populist leaders such as Juan Domingo Péron, H. Ross Perot, Jean-Marie le Pen, Silvio Berlusconi, and Hugo Chávez. If the strong male leader embodies the mainstream form of populism, many resolute women, such as Eva Péron, Pauline Hanson, and Sarah Palin, have also succeeded in building a populist status, often by exploiting gendered notions of society.

Although populism is ultimately part of democracy, populist movements constitute an increasing challenge to democratic politics. Comparing political trends across different countries, this compelling book debates what the long-term consequences of this challenge could be, as it turns the spotlight on the bewildering effect of populism on today's political and social life.

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Mudde and Rovira speak coherently and with nuance about a broad range of global phenomena and grapple nimbly with contextual differences, process, and transition." -- George Ciccariello-Maher, Latin American Research Review

Book Description

A timely overview of populism, one of the most contested concepts in political journalism and the social sciences

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Oxford University Press; 2nd ed. edition (February 1, 2017)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 136 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0190234873
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0190234874
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 2.31 pounds
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6.8 x 0.4 x 4.3 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 207 ratings

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4.4 out of 5 stars
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Customers say

Customers find the book readable and informative. They appreciate the authors' arguments and clear presentation of information. The book provides an insightful and comprehensive introduction to the topic, making it essential reading for understanding current events.

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9 customers mention "Lucidness"9 positive0 negative

Customers find the book's lucid and engaging. They appreciate the authors' convincing arguments and clear, to-the-point writing style. The book is easy to read and provides useful information on populism. It has a textbook quality, which customers appreciate.

"...The text is lucid and engaging, so packed with useful information and descriptions that I found myself highlighting about a third of it and..." Read more

"...Having a textbook quality, the book possesses that category’s strengths and weaknesses. It is extremely well-organized and straightforward...." Read more

"...This is a lucid account of the essence of populism that I would highly recommend to anyone civically engaged...." Read more

"it is really a post-graduate paper than a book but it is fast and easy to read." Read more

7 customers mention "Information quality"6 positive1 negative

Customers find the book provides an insightful and useful introduction to populism. They appreciate the clear, lucid writing style that is packed with useful information and descriptions. The authors provide a highly informed and relevant account of the topic in an accessible manner.

"...The text is lucid and engaging, so packed with useful information and descriptions that I found myself highlighting about a third of it and..." Read more

"...The authors are steeped in populism and display their erudition in an accessible manner...." Read more

"Extremely insightful and up to date. The authors allowto better understand the forces that prompt populism worldwide...." Read more

"...But those limitations aside, this is a excellent overview and should be of inestimable value to the non-specialist and to undergraduate students." Read more

3 customers mention "Reading quality"3 positive0 negative

Customers find the book an informative and thorough introduction to its topic. They say it's essential reading for understanding our times, original, and worth attention.

"...The text is lucid and engaging, so packed with useful information and descriptions that I found myself highlighting about a third of it and..." Read more

"Populism is an informative and thorough introduction to its topic...." Read more

"...is original and worthy of attention – but fundamentally wrong...." Read more

I am an anti populism populist
5 out of 5 stars
I am an anti populism populist
Andrés Manuel López Obrador Is not a populist. He’s nothing like the United States president!Thumbs up to the book! It’s simply not simple though...
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on February 13, 2017
    This is a highly informed and relevant account of a certain dubious species of political actor, the populist. I've read a number of books in the VSI series, and this is best I've seen so far. The text is lucid and engaging, so packed with useful information and descriptions that I found myself highlighting about a third of it and scribbling all over the margins. Though Trumpian politics feel entirely novel to many of us, this book gives us (Americans) a much-needed perspective on leaders of his typology who have cropped up all over the world in the last 40 years. A particularly helpful discussion concerned where populism fits within the broader landscape of liberal democracy, including the contexts in which populism has a de-democratizing effect by destabilizing liberal institutions such as the judiciary and the press. Finally, there is also analysis of the dynamics of the (relatively) leaderless grassroots populism movements including the American Tea Party and Occupy movements, and how such movements differ from leader-driven populism. This is essential reading for understanding our times.
    11 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 27, 2017
    Populism is an informative and thorough introduction to its topic. The authors are steeped in populism and display their erudition in an accessible manner. Mudde’s and Rovira Kaltwasser’s ability to provide adroit, concrete examples by maneuvering around the world in search of the best illustrations is impressive. Given that kind of broad coverage, the book—as far as its real world examples go—has great scope. The approach of the book isn’t to analyze populism by way of one or three case studies; therefore, it does not leave the reader with a deep understanding of populism in any one country or region. The authors are particularly knowledgeable about Latin America, Europe, and the United States, but they touch on other countries as well. Readers coming to the book looking for an expose on Donald Trump’s place in populism will be disappointed; the shape-shifting reactionary, who at least campaigned as a right-wing populist, and as president at least treats the press as the authors argue populists do, only gets a brief mention as the book appears to have been written early in the primaries.

    Having a textbook quality, the book possesses that category’s strengths and weaknesses. It is extremely well-organized and straightforward. The book is not dumbed down, but it attempts to diagram its points for an inexpert audience. Although it is well-written, clear, and polished, the book lacks personality and style, which is not to say it lacks a point of view. The absence of bold flavor does not make it a chore to read; on the other hand it doesn’t quicken one’s pulse either. However, this is not a failure of execution, merely an outcome of the book’s method and objective—an objective the book satisfies.

    One comment on the substance of the text. First of all I find the authors arguments very convincing, and I appreciate their distinction of populist supply (leaders) and demand (people, the masses). The latter shows how populism is not simply a stratagem or means to arouse a base but also a way of thinking. This accords with my belief that conspiracy theories and their acceptance are a form of populist epistemology.
    14 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on March 27, 2017
    The election of Donald Trump makes this book timely and mandatory reading by all those who think Trump is a populist. This is a lucid account of the essence of populism that I would highly recommend to anyone civically engaged. The book confirmed me in my belief that Trump is a pragmatist not a populist or any form of ideologue.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on April 5, 2017
    Extremely insightful and up to date. The authors allowto better understand the forces that prompt populism worldwide. The last chapter on how to deal with populism is a must read
  • Reviewed in the United States on March 22, 2017
    I started to study this book with eager expectation, but the more I read the more disturbed I became. The proposed conception of “populism” is not convincing; limiting treatment mainly to liberal democracies is unjustified; there are doubtful statements and misinterpretations; and modern developments radically changing the dynamics of populism are not adequately recognized.

    The authors define populism as a “thin-centered ideology that considers society to be ultimately separated into two homogenous and antagonistic camps, ‘the pure people’ versus ‘the corrupt elite’, and which argues that politics should be an expression of the volonté générale (general will) of the people” (page 6).

    I agree that populism often involves “some kind of appeal to ‘the people’ and denunciation of ‘the elite… a critique of the establishment” (page 5), though I think that often “adulation of the common people” (page 5) is more of a façade than a deeply held belief. But this does not justify the concept package of the book.

    There is an ideology (not “thin” and not in need of “host-ideologies) as described above, which can be called “populicism,” that deserves more attention. And there is “populism” as a modality of appealing for action and support. Those two sometimes overlap, but are not identical. Some believers in populicism may follow a revolutionary cadre strategy, without populistic appeals. And many who seek support use populism as a stratagem, without really believing in the masses. Thus, in liberal democracies most candidates use some populist slogans to market themselves, often without trusting the “wisdom of the many” or thinking they should rule.

    Therefore I think the “ideational approach” developed by the authors (pp. 5-9) is original and worthy of attention – but fundamentally wrong.

    Limiting most of the treatment to liberal democracies makes the text irrelevant to large parts of the world. It is not true that the “world … is dominated by democracy and liberalism” (p. 116). What about China, Russia, Indonesia and so on? Nor is it preordained that liberal democracy will expand, given the likelihood of harsh crises caused by climate change and emerging technologies.

    There are many statements which are doubtful and also wrong. It misunderstands Nazi ideology which emphasized the “Volk” (with racial purity necessary to protect it from “pollution”). The comments on Turkey and Israel are misleading. The often crucial role of religions in “populism,” as demonstrated in the paradigmatic case of Ayatollah Khomeini, is ignored. And the recommendations for coping with the tensions between responsiveness and responsibility (pp. 101-102), such as “being honest about this tension” (pp. 102, 112), and trust “civic education” (p. 112), make me wonder in which alternative world the authors are living.

    My wondering is reinforced by lack of serious treatment of the radical changes in the dynamics of populism caused by Internet and especially social media. These are mentioned in passing (e.g., pp. 103, 104, 114), including their role in the Arab Spring (p. 104). But the phase-leap in populist modalities they cause requires much more attention throughout the book and at least a chapter of its own.

    Professor Yehezkel Dror
    The Hebrew University of Jerusalem
    33 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on February 16, 2021
    it is really a post-graduate paper than a book but it is fast and easy to read.

Top reviews from other countries

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  • Ella
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great book - consice and informative
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 23, 2020
    I am a Masters Student in Politics and this book is incredibly informative. Mudde is one of my favourite scholars on populism and provides a really insightful commentary, especially in the 'populist leaders' section. This is incredibly well written as, although this is an academic book, it is very accessible and will be enjoyed by people without previous knowledge on the subject. I think I will get more of these 'Very Short Introductions' in the future!
  • Amazon Kunde
    5.0 out of 5 stars Super Einführung zum Begriff Populism
    Reviewed in Germany on July 11, 2017
    Mudde und Kaltwasser schaffen es in diesem kleinen Buch die verschiedenen Strömungen der Forschung in der (Englischen) Fachliteratur gut darzustellen und argumentieren meiner Meinung nach schlüssig für ihren "Ideational Approach". Da viele Paper zum Populismus den Teil der "Literature Review" eher schmal halten ist dies eine der besten Zusammenfassungen zum Stand des Themas in kompakter Form. Für Jeden der sich mit Populismus auseinandersetzt nur zu empfehlen.
  • Amazon Customer
    3.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction
    Reviewed in Australia on November 20, 2019
    This book gives the layman a good understanding of Populism. Populism has its place but with a good understanding needed of the consequences
  • ハテナ
    5.0 out of 5 stars 右に左に揺れるポピュリズムと政体のダイナミズムを分析
    Reviewed in Japan on February 25, 2017
     近年のポピュリズムの高まりを受けて、ポピュリズムについての長年の自らの研究成果を簡明に著した書籍が先週発行されている。Cas Mudde, Cristobal R Kaltwasser著「POPULISM A very Short Introduction」(Oxford) 。オランダの政治学者たちのこの渾身の120ページの導入書は、ポピュリズムという言葉に付きまとう好悪感が入り混じる混迷を正す適格な言葉の選び方、キ-ワ-ドのより明瞭な定義、において誤解の余地のないような配慮にあふれている。
     国により、時に右傾化(愛国的すぎる)化、時に左傾化(リベラルすぎる)、という意匠をまといその国の歴史の中に現れては消えてきたポピュリズムであるが、その特徴を一言でいえば、イデオロギ-にそれほど拘泥するわけではなく変幻自在な「Thin-Centered」な考え方、ととらえる。
     そういえば、オバマ氏がトランプ氏との一回目の会談後に、トランプ氏の印象を「これまでのどの大統領とも違って、なにかの下(共和党あるいは民主党のイデオロギ-)で行動しなければならない、という制約のない大統領」と指摘していた。制約があるとすれば、ポビュリストは、「忘れられていた普通の人、つまり、我が人民のために」行動するという合言葉ぐらいだ。
     著者たちが力こぶを入れている箇所が、ポピュリズムが、民主主義の発展を促すこともあり、または独裁化への深耕を促すこともあるという政体のダイナミックの発展の過程を南アメリカの政治運動や政権の変化をたどり鮮やかに立証しているところだ。
     例を挙げるほうが理解しやすいだろう。たとえば、どこか遠い国の民主党政権前の自民党政権時代を、典型的な民主主義的な選挙王国(これはヘーゲルの言葉であるが)だとすれば、民主党は「コンクリ-トから人へ」という典型的なポピュリズムのスローガンにより「人民」というまとまった幻想をみせることで、よりリベラル化(左傾化)した民主主義政権に移行させた。やがて、民主党の中にもともと存在していたも種々のThin-Centeredな考え方が乱立するとともに、立憲主義の原則を軽視した民社主義の劣化が始まり政権は崩壊し、自民党政権に戻る。自民党に移行したあとに、圧勝した二回の選挙により得た「民衆の意思」を尊重する、という仮想現実を利用して権力を行使するという反リベラルなポピュリズムが現れ、権威主義が台頭する政体に移る。今後もっと反リベラルなポピュリズムが強まればより中央集権的な政体に移行するし、「都民ファ-スト」(これはもうそのものズバリ)のような「人民」重視をメイクしたリベラルな民主主義が強まれば、このポピュリズムは自民党政権をより民主化した形に引き戻す。この国の例でもわかるようにポピュリズムとは、独立した政党、運動、の形をとることもあるし、政党が(意識的か無意識的かによらず)自らのうちにそれを取り込む、というメカニズムもあることに注意する必要がある。
     右に左に揺れるポピュリズム(人民の意思)によりとどまらぬ政体のダイナミズムが著者たちにより明らかにされているのである。
  • Botanic91
    5.0 out of 5 stars super gute und kurze Zusammenfassung!
    Reviewed in Germany on April 13, 2019
    Egal ob für das Studium oder aus eigen Interesse, das Buch fasst die momentane Forschungslage mehr als verständlich zusammen!