Jan-Werner Mueller, Author at Public Seminar

Democracy

Far-Right Populism is Bad Enough

On fascism, populism, and democracy

October 15, 2020 • by Jan-Werner Mueller

From more or less mad Roman emperors to -- of course -- Adolf Hitler, by now it would seem easier to name historical figures to whom Donald Trump has not been linked than ones whom he has been said to resemble. By the same token, there has been a deluge ...

Taking “Illiberal Democracy” Seriously

Responding to Jeffrey C. Isaac’s Illiberal Democracy

July 21, 2017 • by Jan-Werner Mueller

This piece is part of the discussion generated by Jeffrey C. Isaac’s piece, Illiberal Democracy. Jeffrey Isaac wants us to take seriously “illiberal democracy” both as an idea and as a political reality at the beginning of the twenty-first century. It is indeed important to understand the challenges posed by political leaders ...

Claims to Populism, Danger to Democracy?

February 9, 2016 • by Jan-Werner Mueller

No US election campaign in living memory has seen as many invocations of “populism” as this one. Both Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders are labelled as “populists;” the term is regularly used as a synonym for “anti-establishment,” irrespective of any particular political ideas; it is also associated with particular moods ...