The Age of Discontent: Populism, Extremis and Conspiracy Theories in Contemporary Democracies.

"The Age of Discontent: Populism, Extremism, and Conspiracy Theories in Contemporary Democracies" is a book that explores the reasons behind widespread political discontent in five democracies following the 2008 financial crisis. The authors argue that while the crisis was an economic one, the resulting discontent manifested in the cultural realm, leading to populism, support for far-right extremism, and conspiracism. They propose a theoretical framework called "Affective Political Economy" that suggests emotions, particularly negative ones like resentment, mediate economic grievances and contribute to democratic discontent. The book includes case studies of the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain, Brazil, and Chile, as well as recommendations for strengthening democracy and addressing economic insecurity. [Extracted from the article]