21 Books like What Is Populism?

Anti-Pluralism

by William A. Galston • 2018

When economies stop delivering, democracies start falling. Populism is the symptom, not the disease.

3.76

151

🏛️ Liberal Democracy 📢 Populism Studies 💸 Economic Anxiety ⚡ Cultural Backlash 🏢 Elite Disconnect

Anti-Pluralism 96%

When economies stop delivering, democracies start falling. Populism is the symptom, not the disease.

by William A. Galston 2018

3.76

151 ratings

🏛️ Liberal Democracy 📢 Populism Studies 💸 Economic Anxiety ⚡ Cultural Backlash 🏢 Elite Disconnect

The Rise of the Outsiders

by Steve Richards • 2017

Outsiders took the West with three forces: globalization's losers, immigration fears, media rage.

3.69

150

🗳️ Populism 🏛️ Democratic Decline 🔄 Political Realignment 🌐 Globalization Backlash 📰 Media And Democracy

The Rise of the Outsiders 96%

Outsiders took the West with three forces: globalization's losers, immigration fears, media rage.

by Steve Richards 2017

3.69

150 ratings

🗳️ Populism 🏛️ Democratic Decline 🔄 Political Realignment 🌐 Globalization Backlash 📰 Media And Democracy

The Future of Freedom

by Fareed Zakaria • 2003

Democracy without courts, rights, and restraints is just a machine for producing elected strongmen.

4.02

4k+

🌐 Comparative Politics 🗳️ Democratic Theory ⚖️ Rule Of Law 📉 Democratic Backsliding 🏛️ Classical Liberalism

The Future of Freedom 96%

Democracy without courts, rights, and restraints is just a machine for producing elected strongmen.

by Fareed Zakaria 2003

4.02

4k+ ratings

🌐 Comparative Politics 🗳️ Democratic Theory ⚖️ Rule Of Law 📉 Democratic Backsliding 🏛️ Classical Liberalism

How to Lose a Country

by Ece Temelkuran • 2019

A democracy collapses step by step, and the playbook looks the same from Turkey to the West.

4.04

2k+

🗳️ Democratic Backsliding 🎙️ Populist Movements 📰 Post-Truth Politics 👩 Misogyny And Politics 🤝 Resistance Movements

How to Lose a Country 96%

A democracy collapses step by step, and the playbook looks the same from Turkey to the West.

by Ece Temelkuran 2019

4.04

2k+ ratings

🗳️ Democratic Backsliding 🎙️ Populist Movements 📰 Post-Truth Politics 👩 Misogyny And Politics 🤝 Resistance Movements

Democracy Rules

by Jan-Werner Müller • 2021

Losing is the skill democracy forgot, and without institutions to structure conflict, it unravels.

3.46

168

🏛️ Democratic Theory 📜 Political Philosophy 🗳️ Populism Critique 🏢 Democratic Institutions 💰 Campaign Finance

Democracy Rules 96%

Losing is the skill democracy forgot, and without institutions to structure conflict, it unravels.

by Jan-Werner Müller 2021

3.46

168 ratings

🏛️ Democratic Theory 📜 Political Philosophy 🗳️ Populism Critique 🏢 Democratic Institutions 💰 Campaign Finance

The People vs. Democracy

by Yascha Mounk • 2018

Populists dismantle institutions; unelected courts rule from above; split tearing democracy apart.

4.05

2k+

🏛️ Liberal Democracy 🗳️ Populism 📉 Democratic Backsliding 💰 Economic Inequality 💻 Technology And Democracy

The People vs. Democracy 96%

Populists dismantle institutions; unelected courts rule from above; split tearing democracy apart.

by Yascha Mounk 2018

4.05

2k+ ratings

🏛️ Liberal Democracy 🗳️ Populism 📉 Democratic Backsliding 💰 Economic Inequality 💻 Technology And Democracy

Fascism

by Madeleine K. Albright • 2018

Democracies are dismantled one law at a time. The 1930s playbook is back.

4.25

21k+

🔴 Authoritarian Movements 📜 Fascism History 📉 Democratic Backsliding 👤 Strongman Politics 🚩 Modern Nationalism

Fascism 95%

Democracies are dismantled one law at a time. The 1930s playbook is back.

by Madeleine K. Albright 2018

4.25

21k+ ratings

🔴 Authoritarian Movements 📜 Fascism History 📉 Democratic Backsliding 👤 Strongman Politics 🚩 Modern Nationalism

A Pelican Introduction

by Mike Savage • 2015

Three hidden currencies now define British class, and only one appears on a payslip.

4.06

546

🏛️ Class Analysis 🇬🇧 British Society 🎭 Cultural Capital 💰 Wealth Inequality 📈 Social Mobility

A Pelican Introduction 95%

Three hidden currencies now define British class, and only one appears on a payslip.

by Mike Savage 2015

4.06

546 ratings

🏛️ Class Analysis 🇬🇧 British Society 🎭 Cultural Capital 💰 Wealth Inequality 📈 Social Mobility

Tory Nation

by Samuel Earle • 2023

One party has ruled Britain for two-thirds of the last two centuries. This is how.

4.18

🏛️ British Politics 🔵 Conservatism 📰 Media Influence 🚩 Nationalism 🧠 Cultural Hegemony

Tory Nation 95%

One party has ruled Britain for two-thirds of the last two centuries. This is how.

by Samuel Earle 2023

4.18

65 ratings

🏛️ British Politics 🔵 Conservatism 📰 Media Influence 🚩 Nationalism 🧠 Cultural Hegemony

Hatred of Democracy

by Jacques Rancière • 2005

Democracy is not about elections. It is the scandal that no one is born to rule.

3.72

970

🏛️ Political Philosophy 🗳️ Democratic Theory 💰 Oligarchy Critique 👥 Popular Sovereignty 🎭 Representation Critique

Hatred of Democracy 95%

Democracy is not about elections. It is the scandal that no one is born to rule.

by Jacques Rancière 2005

3.72

970 ratings

🏛️ Political Philosophy 🗳️ Democratic Theory 💰 Oligarchy Critique 👥 Popular Sovereignty 🎭 Representation Critique

In the Long Run

by Jonathan White • 2024

The future made democracy possible. Calculated, secret, and algorithmic futures are dismantling it.

3.78

🗳️ Democratic Theory 📜 Intellectual History 💭 Political Imagination ⏳ Long-Term Thinking 🤖 Algorithmic Governance

In the Long Run 95%

The future made democracy possible. Calculated, secret, and algorithmic futures are dismantling it.

by Jonathan White 2024

3.78

85 ratings

🗳️ Democratic Theory 📜 Intellectual History 💭 Political Imagination ⏳ Long-Term Thinking 🤖 Algorithmic Governance

The Retreat of Western Liberalism

by Edward Luce • 2017

Western democracy's real threat isn't China. It's the voters who no longer believe it works.

4.01

3k+

🏛️ Liberal Democracy Crisis 🌐 Globalization Backlash 📉 Middle Class Stagnation 🗳️ Populist Nationalism ⚔️ US China Rivalry

The Retreat of Western Liberalism Summary

The Retreat of Western Liberalism 95%

Western democracy's real threat isn't China. It's the voters who no longer believe it works.

by Edward Luce 2017

4.01

3k+ ratings

🏛️ Liberal Democracy Crisis 🌐 Globalization Backlash 📉 Middle Class Stagnation 🗳️ Populist Nationalism ⚔️ US China Rivalry

The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority

by Martin Gurri • 2014

The digital revolution gave the public the power to destroy institutions but not to replace them.

4.19

2k+

📱 Digital Media Politics 🏛️ Crisis Of Authority ✊ Populist Revolt 🌐 Information Ecosystems 📡 Media Ecology

The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority Summary

The Revolt of the Public and the Crisis of Authority 95%

The digital revolution gave the public the power to destroy institutions but not to replace them.

by Martin Gurri 2014

4.19

2k+ ratings

📱 Digital Media Politics 🏛️ Crisis Of Authority ✊ Populist Revolt 🌐 Information Ecosystems 📡 Media Ecology

Autocracy, Inc.

by Anne Applebaum • 2024

A global network of dictators runs autocracies like for-profit firms. Democracies bankroll them.

4.16

19k+

🌐 Global Autocracy 💰 Kleptocracy 🚫 Authoritarianism 📉 Democratic Backsliding 📡 Information Warfare

Autocracy, Inc. 94%

A global network of dictators runs autocracies like for-profit firms. Democracies bankroll them.

by Anne Applebaum 2024

4.16

19k+ ratings

🌐 Global Autocracy 💰 Kleptocracy 🚫 Authoritarianism 📉 Democratic Backsliding 📡 Information Warfare

Liberalism and Its Discontents

by Francis Fukuyama • 2022

Liberalism's enemies on left and right agree on one thing. Neither has a workable replacement.

3.90

3k+

🏛️ Political Philosophy 🗳️ Liberal Democracy 📜 Classical Liberalism 💸 Neoliberalism Critique 🪪 Identity Politics

Liberalism and Its Discontents 94%

Liberalism's enemies on left and right agree on one thing. Neither has a workable replacement.

by Francis Fukuyama 2022

3.90

3k+ ratings

🏛️ Political Philosophy 🗳️ Liberal Democracy 📜 Classical Liberalism 💸 Neoliberalism Critique 🪪 Identity Politics

Values, Voice and Virtue

by Matthew Goodwin • 2023

Britain's new class war: the university 25% versus the rest. The grads are winning everything.

3.68

338

🏛️ British Politics 👔 Elite Studies 📢 Populism ⚔️ Culture Wars 🌍 Immigration Politics

Values, Voice and Virtue 94%

Britain's new class war: the university 25% versus the rest. The grads are winning everything.

by Matthew Goodwin 2023

3.68

338 ratings

🏛️ British Politics 👔 Elite Studies 📢 Populism ⚔️ Culture Wars 🌍 Immigration Politics

The Project

by David A. Graham • 2025

A manual for capturing the state: gut the civil service, politicize the DOJ, and nullify Congress.

4.02

2k+

🏛️ Presidential Power ✝️ Christian Nationalism 🐘 American Conservatism 📋 Administrative State 🗳️ State Capture

The Project 94%

A manual for capturing the state: gut the civil service, politicize the DOJ, and nullify Congress.

by David A. Graham 2025

4.02

2k+ ratings

🏛️ Presidential Power ✝️ Christian Nationalism 🐘 American Conservatism 📋 Administrative State 🗳️ State Capture

Identity

by Francis Fukuyama • 2018

Economics doesn't explain our political chaos. A deeper human need, the demand for dignity, does.

3.84

7k+

🏛️ Political Philosophy 🤝 Recognition Theory 🏴 National Identity 📢 Populist Backlash 🎭 Expressive Individualism

Identity 94%

Economics doesn't explain our political chaos. A deeper human need, the demand for dignity, does.

by Francis Fukuyama 2018

3.84

7k+ ratings

🏛️ Political Philosophy 🤝 Recognition Theory 🏴 National Identity 📢 Populist Backlash 🎭 Expressive Individualism

How Democracies Die

by Steven Levitsky • 2018

Coups are relics. The new authoritarian wins the election first, then slowly silences the referees.

4.16

33k+

🏛️ Democratic Backsliding 🌐 Comparative Politics ⚡ Political Polarization 📜 Constitutional Norms ⚖️ Checks And Balances

How Democracies Die 94%

Coups are relics. The new authoritarian wins the election first, then slowly silences the referees.

by Steven Levitsky 2018

4.16

33k+ ratings

🏛️ Democratic Backsliding 🌐 Comparative Politics ⚡ Political Polarization 📜 Constitutional Norms ⚖️ Checks And Balances

The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism

by Martin Wolf • 2023

The system that delivered freedom and prosperity is devouring itself from the inside.

3.91

1k+

🏛️ Political Economy 🗳️ Liberal Democracy 💰 Rent-Seeking 📉 Inequality 🗣️ Populism

The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism Summary

The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism 94%

The system that delivered freedom and prosperity is devouring itself from the inside.

by Martin Wolf 2023

3.91

1k+ ratings

🏛️ Political Economy 🗳️ Liberal Democracy 💰 Rent-Seeking 📉 Inequality 🗣️ Populism

The Age of the Strongman

by Gideon Rachman • 2022

From Putin to Trump, Modi to Bolsonaro: how one authoritarian style took over global politics.

4.05

1k+

🌍 Global Authoritarianism 👤 Strongman Politics 🗳️ Populist Leaders 📉 Democratic Backsliding 🏛️ Illiberal Democracy

The Age of the Strongman 94%

From Putin to Trump, Modi to Bolsonaro: how one authoritarian style took over global politics.

by Gideon Rachman 2022

4.05

1k+ ratings

🌍 Global Authoritarianism 👤 Strongman Politics 🗳️ Populist Leaders 📉 Democratic Backsliding 🏛️ Illiberal Democracy

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