Populism - distraction of a problem

This book questions the mainstream interpretation of the current political shifts as a move to ultra-conservative and even fascist politics, changing the polities of the Western democracies that can be overcome by “reclaiming democracy”. Instead of following this path, the present work analyses these developments as extreme consequence that emerged from the individualist and short-sighted understanding of rationality that coined the enlightenment and had been translated into an institutionalist take on democracy. Such view, while accepting the common interpretation of a dramatic and extremely dangerous development, goes further: it emphasises the need to question the pathway of modernisation: Looking at what is hidden by the eclipse of reason encourages also to look for a new societal model, asking for a real public, transcending current strives for publicity. As such, it is an important contribution to debates on precarity and a one-sided understanding of Human Rights. Scholars of political science and political philosophy will be interested in the work as it will be of interest for those who are engaging in oingoi8ng political debates.   The Author   Peter Herrmann, social philosopher, having worked globally in research and teaching positions in particular on social policy and economics, currently: Research Fellow, Human Rights Centre, Central South University Changsha, PRC.