Where can I learn more about American political populism?

July 15, 2008 4:20 PM

What modern book (preferably) or magazine article/essay would you recommend to learn more about the history of populist candidates in American politics? I'm wanting something recent enough to include the gubernatorial term of Jesse Ventura in Minnesota.

If it's a book/essay that focuses on Ventura's candidacy in the broader context of populism, that would work as well. Although I am interested in the political campaigns of populist candidates and the modern populist movement, I am more interested in analysis of how said candidates fared after getting elected and the sort of challenges they faced in governing.

posted by iamisaid to law & government (2 comments total)

Try Beyond Left and Right: Insurgency and the Establishment by David A. Horowitz (NB: not to be confused with David J. Horowitz)
posted by Morpeth at 4:51 PM on July 15, 2008

I don't have any specific recommendations for you but if you haven't seen it already you could start with Wikipedia, which includes a synopsis of populism in the US. It also cites about 15 different books on the subject at the bottom.
posted by triggerfinger at 1:44 PM on July 16, 2008