Marcel H. Van Herpen is a political analyst and Director of the Cicero Foundation, a think tank based in Maastricht
'A brilliant and incisive analysis of populism. It shows how populism is a product of democracy and not its opposite. This is an immensely readable and informative book on the world-wide surge of authoritarian populism. Van Herpen also offers well-reasoned proposals to combat the worst aspects of populism.' Gerard Delanty, Professor of Sociology and Social and Political Thought, University of Sussex 'So much has been written about populism in recent years, you may think that there is nothing more worthwhile to be said. If so, this book shows the contrary. As well as bringing together much of the literature on support for populism, Van Herpen has interesting and important things to say on the vulgar style of populist politicians and their appeal to the emotion of disgust. Most notable, however, are the chapters offering proposals for defending democracy against populism. You may not agree with all these proposals (I don’t) but they are clear and forceful, and should form the basis for future discussion.' Albert Weale, Emeritus Professor of Political Theory and Public Policy at University College London, and author of The Will of the People: A Modern Myth -- .