The Populist Explosion

By: John B. Judis

Narrated by: Coleen Marlo

Length: 4 hrs and 46 mins

Publisher's Summary

What's happening in global politics? As if overnight, many Democrats revolted and passionately backed a socialist named Bernie Sanders; the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union; the vituperative billionaire Donald Trump became the presidential nominee of the Republican party; and a slew of rebellious parties continued to win elections in Switzerland, Norway, Italy, Austria, and Greece.

John B. Judis, one of America's most respected political analysts, tells us why we need to learn about the populist movement that began in the United States in the 1890s, the politics of which have recurred on both sides of the Atlantic ever since. Populism, on both the right and the left, champions the people against an establishment, based on issues - globalization, free trade, immigration - on which there has been a strong elite consensus, but also a strong mass discontent that is now breaking out into the open.

The Populist Explosion is essential listening for our times as we grapple to understand the political forces at work here and in Europe.

©2016 John B. Judis (P)2017 Audible, Inc.

Critic Reviews

"Far and away the most incisive examination of the central development in contemporary politics: the rise of populism on both the right and the left. Superb." (Thomas Edsall, New York Times columnist)

Best at the end

While the history of populism in the western world was interesting, it was the final chapter that really made this book worthwhile. As someone skeptical of populism, the book has made me more sympathetic to supporters of populist candidates.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Listing of facts, history and conclusions...NOTHING MORE!!

It provides brief details on events and movements but truly is like listening to someone read a list of facts.

Not horrible in that I did learn something but far from what it could be.

2 of 2 people found this review helpful

Perspective

This book helped me process the recent US election by putting it into a larger perspective of what is happening politically around the world.

3 of 4 people found this review helpful

Helpful but short on overarching theory

While it isn’t an academic book, Judis’s helpful book still deserves more theoretical grounding. Why is right-wing populism triadic, as the author claims, while the leftist version is dyadic? What conditions in general but laid out specifically spur the current “explosion”? Is this period not only a descendant of earlier populist ideas but also of broad conditions that can be theorized? The author spends six of the eight chapters on largely describing populist movements while the final chapter is a typical conclusion. But why does he not continue to explore different forms of populism and a larger theory of appearance and impact as he starts to do only in chapter 1?

Relevant and interesting but could be better

Relevant and interesting but a bit cursory and lacks a strong point of view. Would have liked more date and explanation of why neoliberalism have become the dominant orthodoxy.

Not Thorough

Could have been more thorough. Could have reviewed other countries in Europe and North America and why populism exist or does not in those countries to build a hypothesis of why populism exists now. Went in depth on some leaders like Marie Le Pen but not others? Why? No real causal connections. Good long-form journalism with plausible conclusions but poor book writing. It's just a bunch of essays in the countries covered ... missing at least half the population of Europe. There is no underlying definition of Populism, why is appears or does not, what comes next. The book is just a long-form news article.

Exactly what I needed!

If you even think you might want to know more about this issue, this book is a fantastic listen. The author deals substantially with the subject, while keeping good focus on the modern rise of populism. The author is also quite fair and balanced in approach and rational. The tone is academic and professional, with little to no pundit commentary. It's intended to analyze, not cheerlead one side over another.

Probably a bit to dry for most

What did you love best about The Populist Explosion?

This is certainly an apt book given the current political disaster we live in. Very concise, well laid out, VERY complete. However, it was so fact laden without any story for respite or time to process what was being said, that I found myself tuning out.

I appreciate someone who knows what they are talking about--and it's clear that this guy does, but this book was missing that little something that would make it really good.

1 of 2 people found this review helpful

A slanted piece

If I wanted to listen to anti-trump propaganda I could've just turned on the TV for free. I was hoping for an objective look, unfortunately that is not what is contained in this book.

6 of 30 people found this review helpful

Bias alert

I was hoping for an unbiased analysis, but didn't find that here. I am disappointed.

3 of 25 people found this review helpful