
Distrust and Democracy
Political Distrust in Britain and America
Vivien Hart(Author)
Cambridge University Press
Published on 11. March 2010
Book
Paperback/Softback
272 pages
978-0-521-13454-5 (ISBN)
Description
This book was first published in 1978. Political distrust is the perception by ordinary citizens of a discrepancy between their democratic ideals and the realities of politics. It has often been the subject of much comment and alarm in both America and Britain. At the time of publication, its presence had been taken to herald and unprecedented political crisis whose populist character would stem from the ignorance and alienation of the average voter. The argument of this book is that the nature of distrust is misunderstood, through the bias of the dominant theory of democracy and participation, through a reinforcing but unfounded 'realism' about the capacities of the citizen, and through an extraordinary disregard of history. Dr Hart attacks these misconceptions in two ways. First, the related problems of the ideology and facts of social science are examined. Secondly, the central part of the book offers evidence of the subtle differences in meaning and consequences of political distrust in Britain and America.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Cambridge
United Kingdom
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Paperback (trade)
Illustrations
Worked examples or Exercises
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 16 mm
Weight
446 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-521-13454-5 (9780521134545)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions
Book
07/1978
Cambridge University Press
€15.48
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Previous edition
Book
07/1978
Cambridge University Press
€15.48
Article exhausted; check for reprint
Content
List of tables and figures; Preface; 1. Alienation and distrust; 2. Two views of political distrust; 3. Grass roots politics in Kansas; 4. Rank and file Liberalism; 5. Distrust and democracy; Notes; Works cited; Index.