author

 
 

Meta

Jan-Werner Mueller
Donald Trump is joined on stage by former U.S. Rep. Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. at a campaign event in Duluth, Georgia, on Oct. 23.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 5, 2024
When the leftists embrace the far right
Do these political migrations reflect a mere opportunistic betrayal of principles or is something more complicated going on?
A protestor hold what they called a Stand up to Racism rally in Liverpool, England, on Aug 3. Savvy anti-populists should concentrate their rhetorical fire on populist leaders, rather than on their supporters.
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 30, 2024
The counteroffensive against populism
One lesson from the past few months might sound like a truism: All parties that value democracy must unite to face down anti-democratic threats.
Republican presidential candidate and former U.S. President Donald Trump speaks at a rally in Vandalia, Ohio, earlier this month.
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 20, 2024
The zombification of American politics
Turning a party into an autocracy is a logical first step toward turning the country into one.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 30, 2022
What makes a fascist?
Parties or regimes exhibiting certain features might not be fascist today; but they could become so in predictable ways.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 7, 2022
The Jan. 6 riot and the possessive white male
In the grand scheme of things, it is tempting to interpret the far-right's rage now and on Jan. 6 as a sign that things ultimately are changing for the better as theirs is a losing battle.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 18, 2021
Austria's disgraced conservative former leader was without qualities
Kurz's fall is widely seen as having consequences beyond Austria: his approach had been touted as a model for center-right parties across Europe, especially in Germany.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Aug 8, 2021
The far-right’s new-old war on women
Ultimately, the real problem for many on the far right is liberalism, and particularly the liberation of women from laws and social norms enforcing male domination.
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 25, 2021
All quiet on the populist front?
Liberals around the world are daring to hope that there is a silver lining to the violent denouement of Donald Trump’s presidency: namely, that the inciter-in-chief’s ignominious exit from the political stage will chasten authoritarian populists elsewhere. Unfortunately, their optimism is naive....
Japan Times
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 8, 2021
Send the right message: Remove Trump now
The violent insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, incited by Trump, represents something new and profane in American history.
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 13, 2020
Truth and de-Trumpification
Historically, plenty of other countries' transitions from authoritarianism have been characterized by a willingness to leave former power-holders unpunished.
COMMENTARY / World
May 4, 2020
Where is the local news about COVID-19?
There's a paucity of accurate, practical community-level information about the pandemic.
COMMENTARY / World
Jun 20, 2017
How populists win when they lose
The choices made by established conservative elites, as much as the challenges posed by insurgent outsiders, determine the fate of democracy.
COMMENTARY / World
Jan 25, 2016
'Illiberal democracies' trod a dangerous path
Instead of describing Europe's new authoritarian leaders as 'illiberal' we should be calling them what they really are: 'undemocratic.'
COMMENTARY / World
Nov 7, 2013
Should we outlaw hate-filled extremist parties?
The Greek government's crackdown on the country's far-right Golden Dawn party revives the vexing question of whether we should outlaw the more hateful, extremist political parties.
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 20, 2013
Populism without the people
Nicolas Maduro's narrow win in Venezuela's presidential election raises an important question: Can populism thrive without a popular, charismatic leader?
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 27, 2011
Understanding the language of global protest
The protest movements that have flared up across the West, from Chile to Germany, have remained curiously undefined and under-analyzed. Some speak of them as the greatest global mobilization since 1968 — when enragés in very different countries coalesced around similar concerns. But others insist...
COMMENTARY / World
Apr 28, 2010
Ethics of citizenship tests
PRINCETON, N.J. — Can citizenship really be tested? An increasing number of countries — especially, but not only, in Europe — seem to think so.
COMMENTARY / World
Jul 5, 2009
The return of religion to Europe
BUDAPEST — It's a well-worn contrast: the United States is religious, Europe is secular. Yet, in some respects, this cliched opposition has actually been reversed recently: Religion played virtually no role during the last American presidential election, while in a range of different European countries...
COMMENTARY / World
Oct 19, 2008
Moving from Christian to Muslim democracy
BUDAPEST — This past summer, Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) narrowly escaped being banned by the country's constitutional court. State prosecutors alleged that the party was trying to "Islamicize" the country and ultimately introduce theocracy. After the decision, not only did...
COMMENTARY / World
Mar 25, 2007
Despite vision deficit, Europe survives
PRINCETON, New Jersey -- The celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome come at an opportune moment. For now is the time for the European Union to call an end to its self-imposed "reflection period" following the rejection of the European Constitution by the French and the Dutch,...

Longform

Yasuyuki Yoshida stirs a brew in a fermentation tank at his brewery in Hakusan.
The quake that shook Noto's sake brewing tradition