The Politics of Our Time

A one-volume history of the most consequential political movements of our time — populism, nationalism, socialism — and how they are influencing the twenty-first century.

The distinguished political analyst John Judis has brought out a book with Columbia Global Reports during each of the last three national political seasons: The Populist Explosion in 2016, The Nationalist Revival in 2018, and The Socialist Awakening in 2020. Together, these books chart the rise during the second decade of the twenty-first century of new and unexpected political movements in the United States and Europe that arose in the wake of the Great Recession, the conflict with al-Qaeda and ISIS, and encroaching climate change.

Judis has revised and updated these three books, and written a new introductory essay that seeks to explain the tumultuous last decade — most notably, Donald Trump's presidency and the response to a global pandemic and recession. This volume is an indispensable guide to understanding the deeply rooted disenchantment that gave rise to populist parties and politicians on the right and left — and to the global changes that have transformed the politics of our time.

'Essential reading.' — E.J. Dionne, Jr., The Washington Post

'Judis compiles and updates his three most recent books in this lucid examination of political movements that have emerged in the U.S. and Europe over the past few decades in response to the failures of neoliberalism...Readers will walk away with a firmer grasp on current affairs.' — Publishers Weekly

'A sobering assessment of recent history as a string of poorly managed catastrophes...skilfully argued.' — Kirkus Reviews