Table of Contents

1. Introduction; 2. Left behind vs. backlash: economic and cultural theories of democratic discontent; 3. Affective political economy: the economic origins of democratic discontent; 4. Affective political economy and political discontent: an experimental analysis; 5. Frozen parties, failing markets: discontent in the United States and United Kingdom; 6. Austerity, regionalism and dueling populisms in Spain; 7. Corruption, populism and contentious politics in Brazil and Chile; 8. The dogs that did not bark: how Canada, Portugal and Uruguay avoided discontent; 9. Populism in power: polarization, charismatic attachment and conspiracy theories in Trump's America; 10. Conclusions: is neoliberal democracy sustainable?

Promotional Information

Examines how emotions caused by economic crises inflame racial, ethnic, and regional tensions, consequently promoting populism, extremism, and conspiracy theories.

About the Author

Matthew Rhodes-Purdy is an Assistant Professor of Political Science at Clemson University. He is the author of Regime Support Beyond the Balance Sheet (2017). Rachel Navarre is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science and Master of Public Administration Program at Bridgewater State University. She is co-author of Immigration in the 21st Century (2020) with Drs. Terri Givens and Pete Mohanty. Stephen Utych is a market researcher with area focus on political psychology, political behavior, and experimental methods. Dr. Utych has published over thirty peer-reviewed articles.