Revolutionary Constitutions. Charismatic Leadership and the Rule of Law. Bruce Ackerman

Populism has traditionally been seen as a threat to democracy—fuel for demagogues and reactionary mobs. Bruce Ackerman, one of America’s most prominent and controversial constitutional scholars, defends democratic populism. He takes us to India, South Africa, Italy, France, Poland, Burma, Israel, and Iran, tracing the struggles for democratic constitutions. Drawing on a quarter-century of comparative research, he shows that despite their differences, leaders like Nehru, Mandela, and de Gaulle acted in similar ways at critical moments—and achieved remarkable things. Rather than using their charisma to hold on to power, they invested it in legitimizing citizens and democratic institutions. In the final chapter, Ackerman returns to the United States and shows that the founding fathers of the American Constitution faced the same dilemmas that populist leaders face today. In the Trump era, the system of checks and balances will not survive unless ordinary citizens stand up for it. “Revolutionary Constitutions” is a lesson in how to learn from the achievements of our predecessors and not repeat their mistakes.