Populism and Democracy: Politics in the Public Interest
John Marenbon
2011
In Populism and Democracy: Politics in the Public Interest, John Marenbon, a fellow of Trinity College Cambridge, argues that populism is now the dominant force in British politics. But most people recognise it as a bad trend, which often leads to decisions damaging to the people’s best interests. Dr Marenbon explores the fine line that divides populism from democracy, and explains how populist measures are often justified as democratic.
He argues that if government is to act in the best interests of the people, the UK must aspire to a form of democracy which is not populist. By reverting to procedural democracy, the UK would restore a system that allows parties to propose policies because they are right, not because they are popular, while letting the people decide at election time on who should govern them.
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