"This book is a valuable contribution, providing an analytically important account of the varieties of populism. In doing so, it casts new light on how democracies actually function, and the ways in which populism might deepen or hinder democracy." -- Pratap Mehta, Princeton University"In this analytically sophisticated study of populism in India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh, Naseemullah and Chhibber bring clarity to the concept by stretching the temporal framework to include left-leaning populisms of the late 1960s and early 1970s. The book makes meaningful comparisons with other countries, including the United States." -- Ayesha Jalal, Tufts University"This book focuses on the causes of populism, including the rise of inequalities and the sentiments of the unrepresented. It is an important book which situates South Asia in a comparative perspective - an effort rarely done, and this one is fully successful." -- Christophe Jaffrelot, Sciences Po"This is an outstanding book. It traces the roots of contemporary populism to the crisis of representation that originates in politically generated inequalities.

A persuasive and original argument, the book is a deft and much needed comparison of India and Pakistan and offers broader insights into the global phenomena of populism. The book is a must read." -- Atul Kohli, Princeton University"Righteous Demagogues presents a new framework for understanding the causes of populist politics and their impacts on political systems, focusing on procedural inequality, the crisis of representation, and the restitution of the moral contract. A key strength of the book is its ability to offer a fresh perspective on populist politics on many levels, a challenging feat in a field that already seems to be saturated with various theories and analyses. It introduces a new conceptual framework that explains the causes of populist politics in India and Pakistan, providing a valuable analytical tool that can be used by scholars of populism beyond the region. This framework transcends existing dualisms in studies of populism and bridges gaps betweendifferent theoretical approaches." -- Sefika Kumral, Pacific Affairs.