Does American Democracy Still Work?DIVThe past few decades have brought a shift in the nature of American democracy—an alarming shift that threatens such liberal democratic values as respect for pluralism, acceptance of the separation of powers, and recognition of the rights of opposition parties. In this insightful book, political scientist Alan Wolfe identifies the current political conditions that endanger the quality of our democracy. He describes how politics has changed, and he calls for a democracy protection movement designed to preserve our political traditions not unlike the environmental protection movement’s efforts to safeguard the natural world. Voters who know little about issues, leaders who bend rules with little fear of reprisal, and political parties that are losing the ability to mobilize citizens have all contributed to a worrisome new politics of democracy, Wolfe argues. He offers a brilliant analysis of how religion and morality have replaced political and economic self-interest as guiding principles, and how a dangerous populism promotes a radical form of elitism. Without laying blame on one party or ideology and without claiming that matters will improve with one party or the other in office, Wolfe instead suggests that Americans need to understand the danger their own indifference poses and take political matters more seriously./div |
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Contents
| 1 | |
T H R E E Democracy Without Accountability | 50 |
F O U R Democracy Without Institutions | 75 |
F I V E Democracy Without Disinterest | 106 |
S I X Democracy Without Justice | 137 |
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Common terms and phrases
accountability activists affairs Ameri American democracy American politics appeal ballot initiatives believe benefits Bill Clinton bipartisan Bush’s campaign Congress conservatism culture culture war cynicism debate decisions deliberative poll democ democracy’s democratic different difficult disinterested distrust effective efforts elections electorate elites find findings first flourish foreign policy frequently George George W George W.Bush ideological ignorance incumbency influence injustice insist institutions interest groups Iraq issues K Street Project Karl Rove leaders legislation liberal liberal democracy litical majority mocracy moral off offer office holders partisan percent political parties political scientists political system politicians politics of democracy polls populistic President Bush presidential programs public opinion public policy reform rely Republican Party responsive Robert Bork rules Samuel Alito scientific Senate Shapiro significant social justice Social Security sufficient talk tax cuts tion twenty-first U.S. House U.S. Supreme Court United University Press views vote voters York
Bibliographic information
| Title | Does American Democracy Still Work? The Future of American Democracy Series |
| Author | Alan Wolfe |
| Publisher | Yale University Press, 2008 |
| ISBN | 030012743X, 9780300127430 |
| Length | 224 pages |
| Subjects | › Political Science / General |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |