Armin Schäfer

A sharp analysis of contemporary populism. The authors argue that the recent spread of authoritarian populism has a political explanation, but the explanation is not that citizens are unhappy with any particular policy. Instead, it is that (1) elected parliaments cater their political agenda to the educated and well-to-do sections of the population, and (2) non-elected international institutions, which promote the cosmopolitan free market, have placed increasing constraints on national decision-making. The authors explain how a simple, national, anti-pluralist and anti-elitist agenda can effectively meet the concerns of a large segment of the population. The book includes some cross-country statistical analyses of authoritarian populist rule in government and opposition and also a few suggestions for how the lure of populism might be reduced. This is, all in all, an educational and enjoyable book. The only fault I could think of is that the internet isn't mentioned anywhere as a contributing factor to populist success.… (mehr)