Giorgia Meloni in Italy, Donald Trump in the USA, the FPÖ in Austria and the AfD in Germany: the rise of populism seems unstoppable - and previous counter-strategies have failed. So what can be done?
The number of people voting for populists has been increasing for years, but politicians and civil society have so far reacted helplessly. Political scientist Marcel Lewandowsky shows that one key aspect has so far received little attention: The reason many voters are so difficult to win over is not because they reject democracy, but because they consider themselves to be the true democrats - and all others to be enemies of democracy.
The author explains this conflict with the ideology and methods of right-wing populism. Populists elevate their supporters to a "silent majority", castigate the elites and paint a picture of a democracy in permanent crisis. They promise their voters "real" democracy: where they govern, the people shall rule unhindered.
Based on this analysis, the book outlines counter-strategies that work on several levels. Clear, descriptive and with many examples from Germany and abroad, What Populists Want shows how to face the great populist wave.
