Right-Wing Populism in America

November 15, 2000
Berlet (editor, Eyes Right: Challenging the Right Wing Backlash) and Lyons (Grassroots Network: Radical Nonviolence in the Federal Republic of Germany, 1972-1985) do not see the racial, religious, social, and economic ideas of the Far Right as strictly marginal. Rather, they argue, right-wing populism is deeply rooted in American history. This detailed historical examination, ranging from Bacon's Rebellion in 1676 to modern militia movements, provides a theoretical basis for understanding the actions and ideas of these movements. The authors see common threads in populist ideology, including the distrust of non-producing elements (such as bankers), the scapegoating of groups (Jews or gays), and the use of apocalyptic narratives to present ideas to followers. The intersection of anti-multinational corporation ideas among Far Left and Far Right groups is particularly revealing. This work strikes an excellent balance between narrative and theory, complementing Michael P. Federici's largely theoretical The Challenge of Populism: The Rise of Right-Wing Democratism in Postwar America (Greenwood, 1991). Recommended for all public and academic libraries.--Stephen Hupp, Urbana Univ., OH

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