Populism: A Very Short Introduction
Cas Mudde · Cristobal Rovira Kaltwasser
Aug 2018 · Tantor Media Inc · Narrated by Leon Nixon
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3 hr 57 min
Unabridged
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About this audiobook
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 Cristobal 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 Peron, 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 Peron, 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.
About the author
Cas Mudde is associate professor of international affairs at the University of Georgia. He is the author of Populist Radical Right Parties in Europe and coauthor of Populism in Europe and the Americas: Threat or Corrective for Democracy?
Cristobal Rovira Kaltwasser is associate professor of political science at the Diego Portales University's School of Political Science in Chile. He is coauthor of Populism in Europe and the Americas: Threat or Corrective for Democracy?
Leon Nixon is a professional actor, playwright, and filmmaker. A Los Angeles native, he has performed in short films, web series, and on stage in dramatic and comedic roles.
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