The world is in the grip of profound political and social change. Leaders are rising to power who promise to respond to the voice of the people – people who are aggrieved and resentful, feeling the sting of inequality and the uncertainty of a new economic order. As the global economy continues to change, disruption and reaction become inevitable. As trust is further eroded, the desire to lash out is understandable. Griffith Review 57: The Perils of Populism examines rise of populism across the world. It features several writers who won the Griffith Review Queensland Writers Fellowships, and explores the nuances of populism past and present – building a conscience, confronting sexual abuse, addressing climate-change deniers, navigating an obstructive bureaucracy, coming face-to-face with religious cults and discovering the enduring kindness of strangers. This edition of Griffith Review, edited by Julianne Schultz, brings new perspectives and insights to this troubling phenomenon.