The recent resurgence of populist movements and parties has led to a revival of scholarly interest in populism. This volume brings together well-established and new scholars to reassess the subject and combine historical and theoretical perspectives to shed new light on the history of the subject, as well as enriching contemporary discussions. In three parts, the contributors explore the history of populism in different regions, theories of populism and recent populist movements. Taken together, the contributions included in this book represent the most comprehensive and wide-ranging study of the topic to date. Questions addressed include: - What are the 'essential' characteristics of populism? - Is it important to distinguish between left- and right-wing populism? - How can the transformation of populist movements be explained? This is the most thorough and up to date comparative historical study of populism available. As such it will be of great value to anyone researching or studying the topic. This is an important book for understanding the changing faces of populism. Populism means, and meant, different things at different times. The book provides a multilayered approach that illuminates the perspectives and limits of the concept. The different authors analyze the national, regional and global variations of populism in the past and the present, providing key dimensions of the current debates about its more progressive, repressive and conservative formations in Europe, the United States and Latin America.