Paul D. Kenny

Why do populists come to power? Are they a threat to democracy? Has the rise of global populism reached its peak, or is it just beginning? This book provides answers to these questions and many more, by summarising in non-technical language the vast research literature on populism that extends across political science, economics, sociology, psychology, and history. Going well beyond the usual cases of Trump and Brexit, Paul D. Kenny provides evidence both of the recurrent global appeal of populism, and of its often deleterious consequences. Populism: What Everyone Needs to Know® advances a new approach to defining populism that helps to make sense of the most robust research findings to date, and that sets up an exciting and dynamic approach in research for the years to come. Populism is, at heart, a political movement that challenges the institutional status quo. The great paradox of populism is that while people are often justifiably resentful of a system they feel is rigged against them, their reliance on charismatic leaders to channel their frustrations usually harms rather than helps democracy.

Why do populists come to power? Are they a threat to democracy? Has the rise of global populism reached its peak, or is it just beginning? This book provides answers to these questions and many more, by summarising in non-technical language the vast research literature on populism that extends across political science, economics, sociology, psychology, and history. Going well beyond the usual cases of Trump and Brexit, Paul D. Kenny provides evidence both of the recurrent global appeal of populism, and of its often deleterious consequences. Populism: What Everyone Needs to Know® advances a new approach to defining populism that helps to make sense of the most robust research findings to date, and that sets up an exciting and dynamic approach in research for the years to come. Populism is, at heart, a political movement that challenges the institutional status quo. The great paradox of populism is that while people are often justifiably resentful of a system they feel is rigged against them, their reliance on charismatic leaders to channel their frustrations usually harms rather than helps democracy.

Whitney Straight made his own way in life. Born in New York with a silver spoon in his mouth, he would earn his living in the board rooms of some of Britain’s greatest companies. He dropped out of Cambridge to become an outstanding racing driver, and run a team of Maseratis across Europe and Africa. A qualified pilot at 17, he revolutionised aircraft design for the enthusiast, and his extraordinary war saw him rise from Pilot Officer to Air Commodore. He survived the invasion of Norway, a crash-landing in occupied France and a year as a PoW to emerge with an MC, DFC and US Legion of Merit. Rejecting Churchill’s proposal of a career in politics, he became CEO of BOAC, transforming it into a national airline to be proud of. At Rolls-Royce, he railed against a company dominated by engineers who made poor businessmen, and played a founding role in the separate paths of the aero and auto businesses still seen today. An incurable romantic, he could never imagine being married to anyone other than his wife, yet he had numerous relationships. Paul Kenny has been granted unfettered access to Straight’s diaries and photograph albums, and has scoured archives on both sides of the Atlantic, leaving no stone unturned in pursuit of the full story of one of the twentieth century’s greatest mavericks.