This Just In: What is Populism?

Populism has been in the news not just during the US election but also with events around the world.  In his short (a little over 100 pages) book Jan-Werner Müller takes a look at the oft misunderstood concept of populism in politics.  Müller, a professor of politics at Princeton, argues that at populism’s core is a rejection of pluralism not just the elite.  Müller delves in to the questions:

• What exactly is populism?
• Should everyone who criticizes government be called a populist?
• What precisely is the difference between right-wing and left-wing populism?
• Does populism bring government closer to the people or is it a threat to democracy?
• Who are “the people” anyway and who can speak in their name?

Müller’s short, easy to read book What is Populism? can be found in our new arrivals right by the circulation desk.  Remember the semester is almost over—time for pleasure reading.