The global rise of populism

The global rise of populism by Benjamin Moffitt ... The author of the book, Benjamin Moffitt, in the introduction to the book, states that over the past two decades, especially in the last decade or so, populists around the world have made headlines in newspapers and magazines by inciting "the people" against "the elite" in the name of popular sovereignty and "defending democracy." Europe has witnessed a wave of populism led by leaders such as Silvio Berlusconi, Geert Wilders, Jörg Haider, Marine Le Pen, and the populist parties across the continent achieved remarkable political success that lasted for a long time. Latin America has seen influential leftist populist leaders bring about irreversible change in the region, with Hugo Chávez, Nicolás Maduro, Evo Morales, and Rafael Correa all winning the presidency in their countries. In the United States, the Tea Party — seemingly — caused the government shutdown in 2013, and figures like Sarah Palin, Ted Cruz, and Donald Trump shaped the new wave of the conservative movement in the United States. Moffitt adds in his introduction: "In the Asia-Pacific region, populists like Thaksin, Thaksin Shinawatra, Joseph Estrada, Bollen Hansen, and Winston Peters have left indelible marks on their countries, while Africa has also seen its share of tough populist leaders under Yoweri Museveni, Meles Zenawi, and Jacob Zuma. In other words, populism has returned to exact revenge. What was once considered marginal phenomena, belonging to another era or specific parts of the world, has now become the mainstay of contemporary politics worldwide."