Neema Parvini

The Populist Delusion

18:32 min
Philosophy, Politics
174 pages, 2022

Have you ever wondered why populism always seems to fail? This penetrating short by Neema Parvini offers a revelatory examination. Methodically analyzing elite theory's historical development, Parvini demonstrates how power truly functions: it resides not with some fanciful "will of the people," but rather with organized minorities. Guiding readers through founding concepts and seminal thinkers, Parvini debunks the great fabrications of liberal democracy. Ultimately, he contends that comprehending elite machinations is integral to realizing genuine political change. Any reader seeking to transcend superficial populism and attain actual power would greatly benefit from Parvini's trenchant work relayed in this short.

Neema Parvini

Neema Parvini is a British academic who currently serves as a senior lecturer at the University of Surrey, where he teaches and publishes scholarly research on Shakespeare and early modern English literature. In addition to his academic work, he has established himself as a public intellectual by writing for various outlets such as Quillette and speaking at events hosted by organizations like the Institute of Art and Ideas to discuss his perspectives on political theory and the dynamics of populism versus elitism in contemporary society. Known for his membership in the Heterodox Academy and nuanced analysis of complex sociocultural issues, Parvini provides an insightful cross-disciplinary lens through his activities as a university lecturer, writer, and media commentator.

Chapters

Elite theorists argue an organized minority rules over the majority in all societies, as the functioning of power is value-neutral and driven by elites, not the populace, countering the "populist delusion" of bottom-up change.
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Cover of The Populist Delusion