In Defence of Populism

1. Auflage 2026
ISBN: 978-1-5095-7167-3
Verlag: Polity Press

Buch, Englisch, 272 Seiten, Format (B × H): 147 mm x 222 mm, Gewicht: 680 g

'Populist' is now most commonly used as a term of abuse. Populists, we are repeatedly told, are xenophobic ignoramuses offering irrational, emotive solutions to complex problems. But is this true?

Frank Furedi argues that this is a self-serving narrative that owes more to the desire of elites to protect their own power and interests than it does to the truth. The widespread disdain expressed towards populism in the media and by many academics is in fact poorly concealed contempt towards the idea of popular sovereignty and democratic decision-making. Populism is not equivalent to any specific ideology, as populist politicians vary greatly in their substantive views, but it is rather a broad disposition towards public life that stresses the value of giving the ordinary citizen a genuine voice in political decision-making. Attacks on 'populism' most commonly reveal the desire of those who run our institutions to keep real authority in the hands of unaccountable elites who veil their power under the guise of 'expertise'.

This bracing defence of basic democratic values by one of our most fearless polemicists should be read by anyone who mistakes the complacent assurances of our elite for the wisdom of our betters.

Autoren/Hrsg.

Furedi, Frank

Fachgebiete

• Geisteswissenschaften Philosophie Angewandte Philosophie, Philosophische Praxis & Beratung
• Sozialwissenschaften Politikwissenschaft Politikwissenschaft Allgemein

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Preface

Chapter 1: Introduction: A Spectre Haunting.

Chapter 2: A teleology of evil

Chapter 3: Populism vs Anti-populism

Chapter 4: The quest for home

Chapter 5: Populism's Defence of the Pre-political Sphere

Chapter 6: A Response to the Condition of Cultural Insecurity

Chapter 7: Championing cultural continuity

Chapter 8: Giving people a voice: giving meaning to democracy

Chapter 9: Conclusion: Taking Control

Über Autor(innen)

Frank Furedi, author and social commentator, is Emeritus Professor of Sociology at the University of Kent. Author of more than 26 books, Furedi's studies have been devoted to an exploration of the cultural developments in Western societies. His most recent book, The War on the Past (Polity, 2024), was a lively attack on attempts by progressives to render our historical inheritance toxic.

His research has been oriented towards the way that risk and uncertainty are managed by contemporary culture. His two influential books, The Culture of Fear and Paranoid Parenting, investigated the interaction between risk consciousness and perceptions of fear, trust relations and social capital in contemporary society.