Populism

by Benjamin Moffitt

Populism is the key political phenomenon of the 21st century. From Trump to Brexit, from Chavez to Podemos, the term has been used to describe leaders, parties and movements across the globe who disrupt the status quo and speak in the name of 'the people' against 'the elite'. Yet the term remains something of a puzzle: poorly understood, vaguely defined and, more often than not, used as a term of abuse.

In this concise and engaging book, leading expert Benjamin Moffitt cuts through this confusion. Offering the first accessible introduction to populism as a core concept in political theory, he maps the different schools of thought on how to understand populism and explores how populism relates to some of the most important concepts at the heart of political debate today. He asks: what has populism got to do with nationalism and nativism? How does it intersect with socialism? Is it compatible with liberalism? And in the end, is populism a good or bad thing for democracy?

This book is essential reading for anyone - from students and scholars to general readers alike - seeking to make sense of one the most important and controversial issues in the contemporary political landscape.

Genres: Politics, Nonfiction, Political Science

170 pages, Hardcover

Published March 23, 2020

Reviews

[H. Jr. · Rating 5 out of 5]

In this engaging and lucid study, Moffitt (Australian Catholic University) offers a helpful guide to the “veritable explosion” (p. 3) of the use and abuse of the concept of populism in six clearly defined chapters. While incorporating the insights of earlier studies, newer insights from emerging fields of scholarly inquiry are also offered. Viewing populism as a term most closely aligned with political theory, but also with political practice, the first chapter introduces the major debates about the concept. The second chapter surveys how scholars have approached the topic, usually concentrating on the separation of the “people” and the “elite.” Chapters three and four explore the difference between populism, nationalism, and nativism, and the relationship between populism and socialism. Chapter five correctly demonstrates how both populism on the right and left share an attachment to “illiberalism” when “institutions and procedures” (p. 72) are considered. The final chapter ponders the question of whether populism is a “good or a bad thing for democracy” (p. 94), without making a final judgment. The book makes a solid contribution to the understanding of populism, while tending to affirm the concept’s compatibility with popular rule.

[Nora]

Read this book as I wanted to make sense of the controversial issues in the current political landscape. It is a political phenomenon of the 21st century. Got interested in Populism after attending several lectures at UM, Asian-Europe Institute on this topic.

I'm not a political science student. Nevertheless, this book gives me a general understanding of Populism. I need to explore more on this topic by reading other books too.

[Emma · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book as part of my literature review for my honours thesis. Would recommend to those interested in the theory of populism rather than particular case studies. The writing is clear and fairly accessible with minimal jargon. A really great overarching introduction for anyone looking to sink their teeth into any populism studies.

[Andrej · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moffit expone con claridad un recorrido conceptual del populismo. Es un libro accesible, riguroso y crítico de uno de los conceptos políticos más importantes de nuestra era. Como señala el autor: ¿Deben los populistas ser rechazados a cualquier costo? ¿Es el populismo lo que se necesita para acceder al poder? ¿Es el populismo de izquierda el único antídoto contra el populismo de derecha?

[Jonathan A · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fairly clear introduction to recent (2020) scholarship.

[Adam Terenyi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great introduction to populism studies. Read it as part of my research and interest in populism, and left with many more questions than I initially came with. One such question, of the inherent tensions between/among populism and democracy, which my favorite quote covers, is interesting: “Determining the moment when populism does ‘cross the line and become[s] an underside of democracy is a matter of political judgement and cannot be settled by conceptual fiat.’” - Benjamin Arditi, quoted in Moffitt’s book.

As such, Moffitt’s views, when built on Arditi’s, suggest that case studies will remain important for the field, but these cases also blind the field from seeing, or being able to search for, any single all-encompassing theory about populism.

I will be using this in my research on populism. Definitely recommend to those with any interest in the topic.

[aure · Rating 4 out of 5]

would i read this voluntarily? probably not, because i do read for the sake of escapism. that being said, even though this was read purely for my political science class, it was extremely helpful in opening up the concept of ’populism’. it was almost fun to see familiar names from previous classes pop up in each chapter, and at times i just felt pieces kind of click into place? eh, i don’t really know what i’m saying either. anyways, this was concise and largely linguistically accessible 👏🏻

[Mackenzie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read for uni as a textbook for my populism class. This was a really concise, but detailed look into the major theories of populism and movements associated with it. Would highly reccomend.

[Cesar Hernández · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moffitt analiza las distintas perspectivas del concepto "populismo". Tanto para los demócratas liberales como para los radicales. Distingue los tipos de populismo en el ámbito conceptual. Finalmente, explica por qué es un fenómeno que, además de un respaldo teórico, está más vigente en la práctica que en otras épocas.

[Pavol Hardos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Veľmi dobrá prehľadovka súčasnej (do 2020) odbornej politologickej literatúry na tému populizmus. Výborné ako učebnica, aj ako doplnkové čítanie; budem odporúčať komukoľvek, kto chce získať rýchly a zároveň hlbší prehľad.

[GÜLÇİN SAĞIR · Rating 5 out of 5]

A good starter book to understand populism. A book that deals with populism as a discourse