Does American Democracy Still Work?
Alan Wolfe(Author)
Yale University Press
Published on 1. September 2006
Book
Hardback
224 pages
978-0-300-10859-0 (ISBN)
Description
The 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.
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.
More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Product notice
Cloth over boards
Illustrations
1 black & white figure
Dimensions
Height: 210 mm
Width: 140 mm
Weight
408 gr
ISBN-13
978-0-300-10859-0 (9780300108590)
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Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Alan Wolfe
Does American Democracy Still Work?
E-Book
10/2008
1st Edition
Yale University Press
€59.95
Available for download
Person
Alan Wolfe is professor of political science and director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life, Boston College. He is author of more than fifteen books and is a contributing editor of The New Republic and The Wilson Quarterly.