Counter-Revolution

Why has populism flourished in Europe in recent years? In this clear-eyed account, academic Jan Zielonka analyzes why the continent’s politics have taken such a hard turn. His conclusion: Mainstream political leadership has grown cynical and complacent, and democratic institutions seem increasingly indifferent to the will of the people. At the same time, Europeans have become more anxious and fearful. Voters in France and Belgium, worried about terror attacks, are increasingly skeptical of the liberal prescription of open borders and multiculturalism. In Greece, Portugal and Poland, citizens fret about their jobs and wonder why their leaders don’t feel their pain. Despite his harsh critique of Europe’s system of liberal democracy, Zielonka is no populist. He repeatedly argues that he has no love for the counter-revolution, which he considers misguided. But Zielonka does see value in self-scrutiny, and he makes a strong case that liberalism – and the tolerance and rationality that accompany it – will survive only if its supporters understand and work to change what has gone wrong in recent years. getAbstract recommends hearing him out.