This clear guide is essential reading. From Donald Trump to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, populists are on the rise globally. But what exactly is populism? Should everyone who criticizes Wall Street or Washington be labeled as populists? What is the difference between right-wing and left-wing populism? Does populism bring government closer to the people or does it pose a threat to democracy? Who are "the people" and who can speak on their behalf? These questions have never been more pressing. In this provocative book, Jan-Werner Müller argues that at the core of populism lies a rejection of pluralism. Populists will always claim that they and only they represent the people and their true interests. Contrary to conventional wisdom, populists can govern based on their claim of exclusive moral representation of the people: if populists gain enough power, they will end up creating an authoritarian state that excludes everyone who is not considered part of the right "people". Proposing several specific strategies for how liberal democrats should confront populists, Müller shows how to oppose their claims that they speak exclusively for the "silent majority". *