Populism is a political ideology that vilifies elites, minorities and foreigners while lionizing "the people." In The Populist Temptation, Barry Eichengreen focuses on the resurgence of populism as seen in Donald Trump's election, Brexit, and the rise of populist parties in Europe. He shows that, all through history, populists thrived when economic grievances and identity concerns came together, typically in the wake of sharp economic downturns and immigrant surges. This book is essential for anyone seeking to understand the appeals and dangers of populism.

Barry Eichengreen is Professor of Economics and Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley. His previous books include Exorbitant Privilege: The Rise and Fall of the Dollar and the Future of the International Monetary System and Golden Fetters: The Gold Standard and the Great Depression, 1919-1939.

• Preface


• Chapter 1. The Populist Archetype


• Chapter 2. American Panorama


• Chapter 3. Luddites and Laborers


• Chapter 4. Voyage of the Bismarck


• Chapter 5. The Associationalist Way


• Chapter 6. Unemployment and Reaction


• Chapter 7. The Age of Moderation


• Chapter 8. Things Come Apart


• Chapter 9. Trumped Up


• Chapter 10. Breaking Point


• Chapter 11. Containment


• Chapter 12. Au Revoir Europe?


• Chapter 13. Prospects