The Changing Faces of Populism

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 movementsand the conditions that allow for their growththrough 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.