Populism is the latest political buzzword but is desperately in need of systematic evidence-based analysis and conceptual clarification. This book combines theoretical expertise with empirical case studies on European left radicalism and populism to provide a valuable resource for all those who want to join in 'the great populist debate'. - Cristina Flesher Fominaya, Excellence 100 Reader in Social Politics and Media, Loughborough University, UK.
Moving beyond obsolete euro-centric stereotypes, political science is gradually acknowledging the existence of left-wing populist movements and parties. The rigorous research of the complex relationship between left radicalism and populism will be greatly boosted by this volume. Charalambous and Ioannou have added an important milestone in both the synchronic and the diachronic study of this challenging topic. - Professor Yannis Stavrakakis, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.
This is a really important collection of essays on one of the most pressing issues that confronts students of politics today: what is populism, and should we see it as a threat to democracy, or perhaps an aid to its renewal? Its importance lies in shining a light on what can otherwise be obscured or passed over in more mainstream accounts: the rise of left-wing populisms, alongside the more familiar right wing and nativist variants which tend to attract most of the scholarly and media attention. The authors provide an important corrective to mainstream accounts whilst at the same time providing an interesting and nuanced defence of populism as a potential political strategy. This is a timely intervention in debates on how we should think about and engage with populism, and essential reading for all of those interested in contemporary politics. - Simon Tormey, Professor of Government and IR, University of Sydney, Australia.
This volume, edited by Giorgos Charalambous and Gregoris Ioannou, provides a key contribution [by re-assessing the relationship between left radicalism and populism] as it enriches significantly the debate and challenges several widespread views on the topic. The added value of the book lies in its diachronic perspective and the variety of political actors that it considers... By combining historical and comparative assessments, the book has the merit of having raised new important theoretical and normative questions, laying a solid ground for new academic and political reflections on the future of populism and the left. - Beatrice Carella, Populism: Newsletter of the Populism Specialist Group Political Studies Association
