What Is Populism?

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' This lucid guide is essential reading' Guardian From Donald Trump to Recep Erdogan populists are on the rise across the globe But what exactly is populism? Should everyone who criticizes Wall Street or Washington be called a populist? What precisely is the difference between right-wing & left-wing populism? Does populism bring government closer to the people or is it a threat to democracy? Who are the people anyway & who can speak in their name? These questions have never been more pressing In this provocative book Jan-Werner Muller argues that at populism's core is a rejection of pluralism Populists will always claim that they & they alone represent the people & their true interests Contrary to conventional wisdom populists can govern on the basis of their claim to exclusive moral representation of the people if populists have enough power they will end up creating an authoritarian state that excludes all those not considered part of the proper people Proposing a number of concrete strategies for how liberal democrats should best deal with populists Muller shows how to counter their claims to speak exclusively for the silent majority Updated with a new afterword