Professor of Political Science
Institute for Humanities & Social Sciences
Australian Catholic University
books
Why Populism? Political Strategy from Ancient Greece to the Present
Populism and Patronage: Why Populists Win Elections in India, Asia, and Beyond
Why Populism? Political Strategy from Ancient Greece to the Present
This book is about the economics of winning and keeping power. Instead of focusing on why people supposedly want populism—the demand side—this book examines the economic logic behind the choices voters face instead—the supply side. Populists win when they can mobilize votes more cheaply than their rivals. Why populism? is not a question o
This book is about the economics of winning and keeping power. Instead of focusing on why people supposedly want populism—the demand side—this book examines the economic logic behind the choices voters face instead—the supply side. Populists win when they can mobilize votes more cheaply than their rivals. Why populism? is not a question of ideology, but of a hidden strategic calculus.
Cambridge University Press (2023)
Populism in Southeast Asia
Populism and Patronage: Why Populists Win Elections in India, Asia, and Beyond
Why Populism? Political Strategy from Ancient Greece to the Present
What does populism mean in the context of Southeast Asia? And what are the causes of populist success in the region? This short book argues that populism is best understood as a political strategy based on charismatic leadership, which thrives in the region because parties are so weak.
Cambridge University Press (2019)
Populism and Patronage: Why Populists Win Elections in India, Asia, and Beyond
Populism and Patronage: Why Populists Win Elections in India, Asia, and Beyond
Populism and Patronage: Why Populists Win Elections in India, Asia, and Beyond
Focusing on the crisis of Indian democracy in the 1970s, this award-winning book* shows that populists like Indira Gandhi overcome the breakdown in national patronage networks by connecting directly with the people through the media and mass rallies, often with detrimental consequences for democracy.
Oxford University Press (2017)
* Winner 2018 Robert A. Dahl Award