Cultural Backlash: Trump, Brexit, and Authoritarian Populism

Description

Authoritarian populist parties have advanced in many countries, and entered government in states as diverse as Austria, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Switzerland. Even small parties can still shift the policy agenda, as demonstrated by UKIP's role in catalyzing Brexit. Drawing on new evidence, this book advances a general theory why the silent revolution in values triggered a backlash fuelling support for authoritarian-populist parties and leaders in the US and Europe. The conclusion highlights the dangers of this development and what could be done to mitigate the risks to liberal democracy.

Pippa Norris is the McGuire Lecturer in Comparative Politics at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, Massachusetts, Laureate Fellow and Professor of Government and International Relations at Sydney University, and Director of the Electoral Integrity Project. A multiple award-winning author and researcher, her publications include Why Electoral Integrity Matters (Cambridge, 2014), Why Elections Fail (Cambridge, 2015) and Strengthening Electoral Integrity (Cambridge, 2017). Ronald Inglehart is Professor of Political Science and Program Director at the Institute for Social Research at the University of Michigan. He has previously collaborated with Pippa Norris on Rising Tide: Gender Equality and Cultural Change Around the World (Cambridge, 2003) and is the author of many publications including Modernization and Postmodernization (1997), Modernization, Cultural Change and Democracy (Cambridge, 2005, with Christian Welzel) and Cultural Evolution (Cambridge, 2018).

'Cultural Backlash is a foundational piece in the burgeoning field of studies related to the revival of authoritarianism and the rise of populism in the twenty-first century. But it is also much more than that. It is not only a book that explains the reasons why some parties and candidates have been more successful than others, or about the potential causes and effects of the erosion to liberal democracy. It is also an unprecedented roadmap to understand the new political and social fault lines that will likely mark political representation patterns for years to come. The book is a landmark in the study of social psychology and voter choice.' Kenneth Bunker, Democratization 'No book this year has done more to explain our current political plight than Pippa Norris and Ronald Inglehart's comprehensive study ...' Colin Kidd, New Statesman 'There is a lot to appreciate and admire about Norris and Inglehart's latest book. Those intrigued by and concerned about today's political currents in democratic societies can learn a great deal from Cultural Backlash. I recommend picking it up for the narrative, reading on for the depth and nuance, and reflecting on the ideas for inspiration.' Jennifer Fitzgerald, Political Psychology 'Cultural Backlash is a leader in a crowded field of research on the origins and implications of populist politics in western societies. Among many contributions, the book especially adds value for scholars of international affairs ...' Jordan Becker, International Affairs '... an argument convincingly buttressed with an impressive amount of data from several different sources.' Gianfranco Pasquino, The Political Quarterly