The Populist Challenge

Overview & Synopsis

The Populist Challenge - Democracy and Its Enemies offers a timely and provocative analysis of the deepening crisis of liberal democracy in an age marked by the authoritarian turn and post-liberal uncertainty. Bringing together contributions spanning Western Europe, the United States, Japan, Asia, and Central and Eastern Europe, this edited volume develops a genuinely global perspective that bridges regionally grounded case studies with broader theoretical and normative inquiry. Structured around a trajectory from democratic destabilization, through processes of illiberal transformation, to the prospects for democratic renewal, the book demonstrates that liberal democracy now faces systemic challenges from multiple “enemies,” both internal and external—including authoritarian tendencies, hybrid and neo-fascist formations, and the erosion of democratic norms evident in developments such as the Trump administration and wider global crises. It breaks new ground in populism studies by extending the field beyond its traditional Euro-American focus, advancing the analysis of non-Western populisms, while also reinterpreting Western cases through new comparative lenses. A distinctive contribution is its innovative, context-sensitive typology of populism, including outsider and insider populism and their hybrid forms, developed across multiple chapters and applied to diverse national settings, such as Japan and Indonesia. Across these analyses, the volume highlights underlying forces such as the depletion of well-being (WB) and values, corruption, and the often-overlooked moral and religious dimensions of political life, including dynamics of authoritarian and civic sacredness. Integrating empirical research with normative theory, this book engages with positive political psychology and well-being studies to explain democratic vulnerability and resilience. Building on this foundation, it advances Ethical Communitarian Democracy, or flourishing democracy, as a pathway beyond the limits of contemporary liberalism. By combining global scope, regional depth, and conceptual innovation, this volume not only explains the present crisis but also opens new frontiers in the study and renewal of democracy.