Ezra's Bookshelf

Cultural Backlash

by Pippa Norris, Ronald Inglehart · 564 pages · ~10.5 hrs

Politics & GovernmentSociety & Culture

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Pippa Norris and Ronald Inglehart's 'Cultural Backlash' explains the rise of authoritarian-populist movements in America and Europe as a reaction against decades of progressive cultural change. Norris and Inglehart, political scientists who have long studied value change across societies, argue that the 'silent revolution' that brought more liberal attitudes toward gender, sexuality, immigration, and multiculturalism also triggered a 'cultural backlash' among those who felt their traditional values under siege. This backlash fuels support for parties and leaders who promise to restore older cultural hierarchies. The book draws on extensive survey data to show how cultural values, more than economic grievances, predict support for populist movements. The authors trace how older, less educated voters who feel culturally marginalized have become a constituency for politicians who frame themselves as defenders of the people against cosmopolitan elites. While the analysis focuses on recent developments, Norris and Inglehart place them within a longer historical perspective on value change in modernizing societies. Readers seeking to understand the appeal of populism beyond simple economic explanations will find a rigorous empirical analysis with important implications.

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