Populism's gambit: an examination of authenticity in the political style.

• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/2047/D20409510

Populism, as a concept, has numerous variations and potential definitions. Originating in the late 19th century, populism has seen a resurgence in Europe, Latin America, and the United States in recent years. Variations of populism differ across multiple axis: left versus right, authoritarian versus libertarian. One such axis left unexplored by current scholarship is the axis of genuine and faux. This is a question of a populist's authenticity in delivering on populist campaign promises. Genuine or authentic populists endeavor to convert their campaign promises into policy. Building upon the existing literature of populism as a political style and its variations, this analysis of populist case studies asserts that there is an unexplored typology within populist circumstances that can determine whether populists across the ideological spectrum are authentic in their appeals to a selected "people."--Author's abstract