A Pandemic of Populists

Over the last decade, the world has watched in shock as populists swept to power in free elections. From Manila to Warsaw, Brasilia to Budapest, the populist tide has shattered illusions of an inexorable march to liberal democracy. Eschewing simplistic notions of a unified global populism, this book unpacks the diversity and plurality of populisms. It highlights the variety of constitutional and extraconstitutional strategies that populists have used to undermine the institutional fabric of liberal democracy and investigates how ruling populists responded to the Covid-19 crisis. Outlining the rise of populisms and their governing styles, Wojciech Sadurski focuses on what populists in power do, rather than what they say. Confronting one of the most pressing concerns of international politics, this book offers a vibrant, contemporary account of modern populisms and, significantly, considers what we can do to fight back.

Table of Contents:
1. Why populisms?; 2. The war on institutions; 3. Constitutions: breaches, abuses, and literal democracy; 4. Courts: the least resilient branch; 5. Paranoia; 6. Democracy diseased: populism in the time of Covid; 7. Antidotes, remedies, and miracles; Annex: country selection explanation.

About the Author :
Wojciech Sadurski is Challis Professor of Jurisprudence at the University of Sydney and Professor of the Centre for Europe at the University of Warsaw; formerly Professor and Head of Department of Law at the European University Institute in Florence. He is author of several books, most recently Poland's Constitutional Breakdown (2019) and Constitutionalism and the Enlargement of Europe (2012). He regularly teaches, as visiting professor, in top universities around the world, including at Yale and New York Universities.

Review :
'A renowned expert in constitutionalism, Wojciech Sadurski offers a sophisticated analysis of populism as it pertains to the current situation, particularly in Poland and Hungary, but also in India, the Philippines, Brazil and Venezuela. This innovative analysis of the relationship of populists in power to courts is complemented by equally original discussion of populism in the time of COVID, and of the antidotes that might work against populists in and out of power. The book is excellent and should be read by everyone interested in the topic.' Jean L. Cohen, Columbia University 'In this thoroughly researched and powerfully argued book, prominent constitutional scholar Wojciech Sadurski reveals and exploits the flaws of populist governance. His central argument is that it is populists in power, rather than liberal democracies or classical authoritarian regimes such as China and Vietnam, that were least successful in dealing with the pandemic. But he is also cautious to warn us that populists' failure does not necessary lead to the electoral defeat of populist regimes.' Ivan Krastev, the author of Is It Tomorrow Yet? (2020) 'Wojciech Sadurski is one of the world's leading constitutional theorists; not for nothing has he been subject to the wrath of right-wing populists in his native Poland. With this masterful volume, he brings together a sophisticated analysis of what populists in power do to institutions with personal stories as well as new ideas how to defeat populists.' Jan-Werner Mueller, Princeton University 'In its attention to both the similarities and the differences among populist regimes around the world, this comparative analysis offers a skillful portrait of the diversity of modern populisms … Recommended.' S. Mitropolitski, Choice