
Direct Democracy Or Representative Government? Dispelling The Populist Myth
Dispelling the Populist Myth
John Haskell(Author)
Westview Press Inc
1st Edition
Published on 29. December 2000
Book
Paperback/Softback
224 pages
978-0-8133-9783-2 (ISBN)
Description
In Direct Democracy or Representative Government? John Haskell develops a devastating critique of direct democracy by exposing the central flaw in populist thinking. Contrary to the beliefs of populist advocates of direct democracy, the popular will cannot be interpreted from the results of the plebiscite. John Haskell presents a defense of representative institutions that brings to bear, in an understandable way, the findings of public choice scholars. Haskell covers the clash of ideas between populists and constitutionalists throughout American history. He follows the development of direct democracy during the twentieth century, especially the dramatically increased use of initiatives and referenda in the last decade. As Americans become increasingly frustrated with the workings of the institutions of government at the state and national levels, and as populist ideas gain greater currency, new forms of direct and participatory democracy making use of the latest computer technology appeal to more people. Haskell speculates as to the likely future direction of direct democracy in the U.S. He describes in clear language the fundamental problem with the premise of populist thinking and explains why direct democracy presents a threat to minority rights and only promises irresponsible and unaccountable governance.
More details
Language
English
Place of publication
Oxford
United States
Publishing group
Taylor & Francis Inc
Target group
College/higher education
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 12 mm
Weight
335 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-8133-9783-2 (9780813397832)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

John Haskell
Direct Democracy Or Representative Government? Dispelling The Populist Myth
Dispelling the Populist Myth
Book
06/2019
1st Edition
Routledge
€207.60
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E-Book
03/2018
1st Edition
Routledge
€64.49
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E-Book
03/2018
1st Edition
Routledge
€64.49
Available for download
Person
John Haskell is Senior Fellow at the Government Affairs Institute in Washington, D.C. He has written several articles on presidential and congressional politics, and is the author of Fundamentally Flawed, an examination of the presidential nomination process.
Content
Preface , Introduction , The Heritage of Populism in the United States , Direct Democracy: Past, Present, and Future , Direct Democracy Versus Representative Democracy , Dispelling the Populist Myth , Curing the Mischief of Plebiscite