Populism and Foreign Policy

Destradi and Plagemann examine how transitions to populist governments in Bolivia, the Philippines, Turkey, and India shape foreign policy outcomes.

They argue that populism's impact is not uniform but depends on two mechanisms: personalization of foreign policy and the use of foreign policy for domestic political mobilization.

The book combines case studies and theory-building to explain when populist governments produce continuity versus disruption in international affairs.

It highlights procedural changes—marginalization of bureaucracies and leader-centered decision-making—that can produce more extreme or idiosyncratic foreign-policy choices.

The authors also explore variations between Global North and Global South populists and why some populists engage more with multilateral institutions and global public goods.