As President, Donald Trump has made a habit of undermining democratic institutions. Is this the new normal?
In The Demagogue's Playbook, Eric A. Posner argues that Trump falls within a tradition of American political personalities who have used the language of exploitation and grievance to amass power-and, in many cases, were quite popular in their time. From Andrew Jackson to Father Charlies Coughlin, the viscously anti-semetic radio personality of the early 20th century, these demagogues attacked what they perceived as "enemies of the people": the elites, the journalists, the policy-makers, and the institutional norms of our republican system. On the surface, this defense of the "common people" feels oddly noble. But, as Posner shows, this defense is an emperor with no clothes. Rather than protect, the demagogue uses everyday people-and invents their enemies-to undermine, ultimately, their self-interest.
Posner exposes how we must move past the demagogue's rhetoric and protect the features of a democracy that help it thrive: a free press, a group of experts who oversee the various agencies tasked with improving American lives, and the checks and balances that pose restrictions on public office. Only under such norms can a democracy survive. In short, can a democracy thrive under a demagogue? Posner finds no reason to believe so, and The Demagogue's Playbook provocatively reveals how.
As President, Donald Trump has made a habit of undermining democratic institutions. Is this the new normal?
In The Demagogue's Playbook, Eric A. Posner argues that Trump falls within a tradition of American political personalities who have used the language of exploitation and grievance to amass power-and, in many cases, were quite popular in their time. From Andrew Jackson to Father Charlies Coughlin, the viscously anti-semetic radio personality of the early 20th century, these demagogues attacked what they perceived as "enemies of the people": the elites, the journalists, the policy-makers, and the institutional norms of our republican system. On the surface, this defense of the "common people" feels oddly noble. But, as Posner shows, this defense is an emperor with no clothes. Rather than protect, the demagogue uses everyday people-and invents their enemies-to undermine, ultimately, their self-interest.
Posner exposes how we must move past the demagogue's rhetoric and protect the features of a democracy that help it thrive: a free press, a group of experts who oversee the various agencies tasked with improving American lives, and the checks and balances that pose restrictions on public office. Only under such norms can a democracy survive. In short, can a democracy thrive under a demagogue? Posner finds no reason to believe so, and The Demagogue's Playbook provocatively reveals how.
What - and who - is a demagogue? How did America's Founders envision the presidency? What should a constitutional democracy look like and how can it be fixed when it appears to be broken?
ERIC A. POSNER teaches at the University of Chicago. He has written twelve books, more than one hundred articles on constitutional law, presidential power, and other topics, and opinion pieces for the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, New Republic, Slate, and other popular news outlets. He is a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and a member of the American Law Institute.
A New York Times Book Review Editor's Pick "Posner takes us through
the dangers of the charismatic, amoral, institution-destroying
firebrands of American history to help us understand the specific
threat that President Trump poses to the republic. His conclusion:
Trump's threat is a dire one."
--Colin Woodard, The Washington Post "A great virtue of Posner's
conceptual scheme is that it allows him to focus on those aspects
of Trump's presidency that are of lasting significance. Instead of
condemning demagogues for any phrase or policy he happens to
dislike, he zeros in on their dangerous habit of positing a
conflict between the people and the very institutions that have
historically enabled them to exert their power...It is difficult to
argue with Posner's conclusion."
--Yascha Mounk, The New York Times Book Review "The Demagogue's
Playbook is a well-written and -sourced work of pop-scholarship,
with a narrative style that moves briskly without skimping on
important historical and cultural details."
--The Bulwark "Posner's splendid book surveys the demagogic
personalities that have arisen in our republic. His rogue's gallery
profiles Andrew Jackson, Georgia's Tom Watson, Huey Long, Father
Charles Coughlin, Sen. Joseph McCarthy and George Wallace...
Posner, who has impressive mainstream (not liberal) legal
credentials, minces no words in his verdict about Trump and
Trumpism."
--Colorado Springs Gazette "Read this immensely important
book."
--Samantha Power, former US ambassador to the UN and Pulitzer-Prize
winning author, on Twitter "How do we recognize a demagogue when we
see one? In this insightful book, Eric Posner shows us that
although democracies are inherently vulnerable to demagogues,
America has seen remarkably few of them. Until now. The Demagogue's
Playbook makes a compelling case that Donald Trump differs from
nearly all other flawed, dishonest, or populist politicians that
have passed through American politics. He is a true demagogue--a
living manifestation of one our Founders' greatest fears. This is
an important read for anyone concerned about the fate of American
democracy."
--Steven Levitsky, Harvard University, and New York Times
bestselling co-author of How Democracies Die
"An almost novellike stroll through American history...An
insightful analysis into what went wrong with the Founders'
dream."
--Kirkus Reviews "Professor Posner has made an outstanding,
superbly written analysis of how Donald Trump has drawn on the
'demagogue's playbook' to win a presidency that is severely testing
our constitutional democracy. He provides crucial historical
perspective on the demagogue as a distinctive and dangerous brand
of leader in the American political experience--and on the erosion
of the protections that the Founders hoped to have built against a
full-fledged demagogue's capture of the White House. It is hard to
imagine understanding the Trump presidency and its significance
without reading this book."
--Bob Bauer, Former Chief Counsel to President Barack Obama "[A]
skillful survey of American political history. [Posner] delivers a
powerful argument for the need to restore constitutional safeguards
against demagoguery."
--Publishers Weekly "A brilliant and highly original discussion of
one of the most important topics of the current era. Essential
reading if you want to understand the world today."
--Cass Sunstein, the Robert Walmsley Professor of Law, Harvard Law
School, and co-author of the international bestseller, Nudge:
Improving Decisions About Health, Wealth, and Happiness
"In a calm tone and with careful research and keen reasoning, Eric
Posner illuminates the interplay of elitism, demagoguery, and
populism in American politics, past and present. With a refreshing,
sensible clarity, he cuts through the hyperbole and hysteria that
often distorts assessments of our republic, particularly at this
time."
--Alan Taylor, Pulitzer Prize winning historian of William Cooper's
Town: Power and Persuasion on the Frontier of the Early Republic
and The Internal Enemy: Slavery and War in Virginia 1772-1832
"Moving through a series of political and historical events and
personalities, including Andrew Jackson, Huey Long, Joseph McCarthy
and Donald Trump, Posner illuminates the characteristics that make
someone a "demagogue," including vicious personal attacks on
political opponents, divisive accusations against vulnerable
groups, the intentional spreading of lies, and efforts to undermine
such fundamental institutions as the press and the judiciary. This
work is necessary reading for anyone who wants to understand the
challenges we, as a nation, face in the era of Trump."
--Geoffrey R. Stone, Edward H. Levi Distinguished Professor of Law,
The University of Chicago, and author of Perilous Times, winner of
the Los Angeles Times Book Prize "A magnificent book that traces
the concepts of populism and demagoguery throughout American
history. The book is hopeful in that the country has survived other
demagogues and frightening in reminding us of how such a man can
come to power."
--Erwin Chemerinsky, Dean and Jesse H. Choper Distinguished
Professor of Law, University of California, Berkeley School of Law,
and bestselling author of We the People: A Progressive Reading of
the Constitution for the 21st Century "Eric Posner is an incisive
guide and a wise advisor as he leads us through the history and
conditions that gave rise to two disruptive American demagogues,
Andrew Jackson and the more dangerous Donald Trump. He takes us on
this journey so that we may understand, with clear eyes, what we
have done, and to recognize the scale of the attack we face against
our own democratic institutions."
--Tom Nichols, author of The Death of Expertise "A fascinating
political history...by reading Posner's survey, readers will see
more clearly and starkly the historical context of Trump's rise to
political power and how he appeals and holds on to his base."
--Booklist
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