Around the world, democracies are being destabilized by a surging wave of populism that is being driven in part by the perception-largely accurate-that governments have become increasingly disconnected from the people they are supposed to represent. The significant backlash in many countries to the central role of unelected health experts during the COVID crisis is only the latest example of an emerging pattern. In Let the People Rule, John Matsusaka proposes a surprisingly underused solution: direct democracy, in the form of referendums, to help make important policy decisions. Drawing on examples from around the globe, he offers important new ideas about how referendums can help bridge the gulf between the government and the people. Book jacket.