ABSTRACT
This chapter develops some preliminary considerations for understanding contemporary developments in the Philippines, Russia and India. I argue that clear similarities exist in the factors shaping support for populist strong men including a declining middle class, the erosion of trust in public institutions and changing status of men – the same challenges to citizenship and social cohesion in the West. However, I also consider the mobilisation of both masculinity and religion by populist leaders in each country and how social marginalisation and a demonstrated willingness to resort to violence are dramatically undermining democracy, with potentially detrimental consequences for international security.
