Does American Democracy Still Work?

by Alan Wolfe

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.

Genres: Academic

224 pages, Hardcover

First published September 1, 2006

About the author

Alan Wolfe is professor of political science and director of the Boisi Center for Religion and American Public Life at Boston College. The author and editor of more than twenty books, he is a frequent contributor to the New York Times, Harper's, and the Atlantic. He lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Reviews

[Kathleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Identifies troubling trends in American politics. Explains them clearly. Written to be accessible to general readers and/or first and second year undergraduates.

[Cody Bloom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Granted this book is dated, but I feel the themes of Democracy without, Information, Accountability, Institutions, Disinterest and Justice have accelerated. This book being written in the time of W. during the 2nd term does not include political actors such as Trump, but it does highlight ingredients that have taken us to a world where people hold a bizarre reverence for W DOR to the accesses of Trump. I feel the ingredients Wolfe lays out on how American Democracy have brought us actors like Trump and the exit of Liberalism. Alas, Mr. Wolfe was quite pensive in 2006 chronicling the rise of Conservative Democracy and the end of stability in American politics

[Charles · Rating 3 out of 5]

Despite being only a little over a decade old, it already feels tremendously dated. Still, lots of good insights here about how we got to 2017.

[Weavre]

HOYT NON-FIC FOUNDERS 320.973 WOL

Or, according to the LUCAS catalog, it's available digitally from the following: http://www.loc.gov/catdir/toc/ecip061...

http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancement...

http://www.loc.gov/catdir/enhancement...