Publisher's Synopsis
Populism is both a reaction to, and a product of, the growing distance between citizens and their institutions of governance, whether that is at state or European level. This publication represents an effort to further understand these movements-and the conditions that allow for their growth-through rigorous, multidisciplinary research and empirical analysis. The variety of interpretations contained in the book points to the intractability and complexity of this issue. This book offers a selection of case studies of nine European countries plus two broader regions (Nordic countries and Central-Eastern European countries), plus, by way of comparison, the United States. It thus reflects the diversity and wide spectrum of movements that presently exist in the European Union, providing a snapshot of groups ranging from new street movements and quasi-parliamentary organizations to those that have been somewhat systematized.
