The rise of populism around the world in recent years takes the form of an avalanche that overturns all established rules. In the eyes of their voters, the flaws of populist leaders become virtues.

Their inexperience is proof that they do not belong to the corrupt circle of elites, and their incompetence serves as a guarantee of their authenticity. The tensions they create on an international level are a sign of their independence, and the conspiracy theories that characterize their propaganda are an indication of their freedom of thought.

Behind the frenzied displays of the populist carnival lies the hard work of communicators, big data analysts, and natural scientists, who, by leveraging the data of millions of citizens with the tools provided by the internet and social media, significantly influence the way people think and perceive reality.

Giuliano da Empoli paints the portrait of the engineers of chaos, individuals almost unknown to the general public, who operate behind the scenes and radically change the rules of the political game and the characteristics of modern societies.