Democracy and Populism

Since the emergence of democracy in ancient Greece until today, this concept has always faced numerous challenges both in theory and in practice. These challenges have led many thinkers and scholars across various humanities fields to work towards identifying its enemies and protecting democracy. Despite the many achievements of these individuals in combating anti-democratic forces, over time and with numerous global changes, enemies of democracy have adopted more complex methods to threaten its sacred nature. Therefore, carefully studying these threatening factors is crucial for defending democracy and preventing its corruption or destruction. The book “Democracy and Populism” by Fakhruddin Azimi, a political science professor and author, is a valuable and credible work aimed at this goal. The author regards “Trumpism” and its emergence in the United States as a manifestation of populism and a potential threat to democracy both in the U.S. and worldwide. He argues that Trump and his followers stubbornly exploit the formal rituals and tools of democracy, rather than its fundamental principles and rules, to achieve their sinister objectives. The author does not aim to provide a conventional report of the current situation but rather sheds light on a subject that is much easier to deny and mock than to understand and analyze. Although the political and ethical depth of Trumpism may be limited, its rise signals the emergence of hostile forces that could undermine the foundations of modern civilization, whether stable or fragile. Reading this book is highly beneficial and insightful due to its important content and engaging, fluent prose, and it can enhance readers’ political awareness.