Democracy Erodes from the Top: Leaders, Citizens, and the Challenge of Populism in Europe

281 Pages·2023·3.559 MB·English

by  Larry M. Bartels

democracy erodes from the top
Tali Mendelberg, Series Editor
Democracy Erodes from the Top: Leaders, Citizens, and the Challenge
of Pop u lism in Eu rope, Larry M. Bartels
Voicing Politics: How Language Shapes Public Opinion, Efrén Pérez &
Margit Tavits
Mi grants and Machine Politics: How India’s Urban Poor Seek Repre sen ta tion
and Responsiveness, Adam Michael Auerbach & Tariq Thachil
Native Bias: Overcoming Discrimination against Immigrants,
Donghyun Danny Choi, Mathias Poertner, & Nicholas Sambanis
Nationalisms in International Politics, Kathleen Powers
Winners and Losers: The Psy chol ogy of Foreign Trade, Diana C. Mutz
The Autocratic M iddle Class: How State De pen dency Reduces the
Demand for Democracy, Bryn Rosenfeld
The Loud Minority: Why Protests M atter in American Democracy,
Daniel Q. Gillion
Steadfast Demo crats: How Social Forces Shape Black Po liti cal Be hav ior,
Ismail K. White & Chryl N. Laird
The Cash Ceiling: Why Only the Rich Run for Office— And What
We Can Do about It, Nicholas Carnes
Deep Roots: How Slavery Still Shapes Southern Politics, Avidit Acharya,
Matthew Blackwell, & Ma ya Sen
Envy in Politics, Gwyneth H. McClendon
Communism’s Shadow: Historical Legacies and Con temporary
Po liti cal Attitudes, Grigore Pop- Eleches & Joshua A. Tucker
Democracy for Realists: Why Elections Do Not Produce Responsive Government,
Christopher H. Achen & Larry M. Bartels
Resolve in International Politics, Joshua D. Kertzer
Democracy Erodes
from the Top
leaders, citizens, and the
challenge of pop u lism in eu rope
Larry M. Bartels
prince ton university press
princet on & oxford
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Names: Bartels, Larry M., 1956– author.
Title: Democracy erodes from the top : leaders, citizens, and the challenges
of populism in Europe / Larry M. Bartels.
Description: Princeton : Princeton University Press, [2023] | Series: Princeton
studies in political behavior | Includes bibliographical references and index.
Identifiers: LCCN 2022037339 (print) | LCCN 2022037340 (ebook) |
ISBN 9780691244501 (hardback) | ISBN 9780691244518 (ebook)
Subjects: LCSH: Populism—Europe. | Democracy—Europe. | Europe—Politics and
government. | BISAC: POLITICAL SCIENCE / Political Ideologies / Democracy |
POLITICAL SCIENCE / Civics & Citizenship
Classification: LCC JN40 .B356 2023 (print) | LCC JN40 (ebook) |
DDC 320.56/62094—dc23/eng/20220915
LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022037339
LC ebook record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2022037340
British Library Cataloging- in- Publication Data is available
Editorial: Bridget Flannery- McCoy and Alena Chekanov
Production Editorial: Nathan Carr
Jacket/Cover Design: Karl Spurzem
Production: Lauren Reese
Publicity: James Schneider and Kathryn Stevens
Copyeditor: Hank Southgate
Jacket/Cover Credit: Vladimir Polikarpov / Alamy Stock Photo
This book has been composed in Arno
Printed on acid- free paper. ∞
Printed in the United States of Amer i ca
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
There are, I believe, im mense confusions in the current theory of democracy
which frustrate and pervert its action. I have attacked certain of the confusions
with no conviction except that a false philosophy tends to ste reo type thought
against the lessons of experience. I do not know what the lessons will be when
we have learned to think of public opinion as it is, and not as the fictitious
power we have assumed it to be.
—w alter lippm ann, the phantom public (1925)

contents
1 A Crisis of Democracy? 1
2 The Euro- Crisis 17
3 The Welfare State 52
4 Immigration 86
5 Demo cratic Frustrations 114
6 The Populist “Wave” 147
7 Democracy Erodes from the Top 185
8 Public Opinion and Demo cratic Politics 216
Appendix 239
Acknowl edgments 251
References 253
Index 263
vii

Democracy Erodes from the Top