This ground-breaking textbook describes and explains the global manifestations of populism. It reviews controversies about its relationships with democracy in the distinct and interrelated histories of the Americas, Asia, and Europe. 'Carlos de la Torre has long been a voice of reason in the often-heated scholarly debates over the meaning of populism and its political effects. In this comprehensive introduction to the study of populist politics, de la Torre explains the different forms that populism can take around the world, and he sheds new light on the democratic shortcomings that give rise to populist leaders and movements. He also offers a balanced and penetrating assessment of populism's limitations as a corrective to these shortcomings. Remarkable in its breadth, this book is an ideal foundation for the study of populism in its widely varying forms.' ? Kenneth M. Roberts, Richard J. Schwartz Professor of Government, Cornell University, USA 'Populism is a global phenomenon that mirrors citizens' perception of the way the democratic system works. It registers a loss of faith in political parties and politicians and interrogates scholars and citizens on the value and worth of democracy. Today, studying populism is thus studying the transformations of democracy in the age of neoliberalism. This book is a precious research offering us a rich and informative overview of populism in all the continents and various socio-economic contexts.' Nadia Urbinati, Kyriakos Tsakopoulos Professor of Political Theory, Columbia University , USA 'This thorough and sophisticated textbook provides a comprehensive overview of populism in its main regional variants, its ideological ramifications, and its cultural and political causes and consequences. Anybody interested in this growing challenge to liberal democracy across the world will learn a great deal from this excellent introduction.' Kurt Weyland, Mike Hogg Professor in Liberal Arts,University of Texas at Austin, USA