Scholars have spent more time arguing over definitions of populism than attempting to clearly identify and differentiate among populists. Jones and Menon develop a typology to identify types of populists based on two key dimensions: 1) their position within the political landscape; and 2) the degree of their ideological commitment to populism. They argue that these distinctions are key to our understanding of how populists gain power and their impact on regime stability and change.

Pauline Jones is professor of political science and director of the Digital Islamic Studies Curriculum at the University of Michigan (U-M). Previously, she served as director of U-M’s Islamic Studies Program (2011-14) and of the International Institute (2014-20). Her work has contributed broadly to the study of institutional origin, change, and impact with an empirical focus on the former Soviet Union—primarily the five Central Asia states of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. Currently, she is exploring the influence of religion on political attitudes and behavior in Muslim majority states with an emphasis on the relationship between religious regulation, religiosity, and political mobilization.

Anil Menon is a political science PhD candidate and Gerald R. Ford Predoctoral Fellow at U-M. His dissertation explores the long-term political legacy of trauma across three different contexts: China, Germany, and Northern Ireland.

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