Populism's shifting meanings and geographical diffusion

This chapter introduces the volume. First, we critically evaluate the current state of populism studies in the Asia Pacific and provide a rationale for and account of the handbook and its aims. Second, we provide an overview of academic debates on populism and identify the key questions that emerge from those debates. Finally, drawing on the thematic chapters and country case studies, we point to several issues that need to be taken into account to better understand cycles of populist politics in the Asia Pacific.