Democracy Books

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewOne of Zocalo's 10 Favorite Books of 2016 "Brennan has a bright, pugilistic style, and he takes a sportsman's pleasure in upsetting pieties and demolishing weak logic. Voting rights may happen to signify human dignity to us, he writes, but corpse-eating once signified respect for the dead among the Fore tribe of Papua New Guinea. To him, our faith in the ennobling power of political debate is no more well grounded than the supposition that college fraternities build character."--Caleb Crain,New Yorker "A brash, well-argued diatribe against the democratic system. There is much to mull over in this brazen stab at the American electoral process... [I]n the current toxic partisan climate, Brennan's polemic is as worth weighing as any other."--Kirkus Reviews "A brash, well-argued diatribe against the democratic system. There is much to mull over in this brazen stab at the American electoral process... Sure to cause howls of disagreement, but in the current toxic partisan climate, Brennan's polemic is as worth weighing as any other."--Kirkus "Important."--Ilya Somin, Washington Post Volokh Conspiracy "Against Democracychallenges a basic precept that most people take for granted: the morality of democracy... Brennan presents a variety of strategies by which the quality of the electorate could be improved, while still keeping it large, and demographically representative... [A] powerful challenge to the conventional wisdom about democracy... [W]orth serious consideration."--Ilya Somin, Washington Post "Compelling... This is theory that skips, rather than plods."--Los Angeles Times "The book makes compelling reading for what is typically a dry area of discourse. This is theory that skips, rather than plods."--Molly Sauter, Los Angeles Times "Among the best works in political philosophy in recent memory."--Zachary Woodman, Students for Liberty "Challenging and insightful."--Alexander William Salter, Public Choice "Lucidly written in provocative, sometimes brash tones, it is especially useful for the undergraduate classroom."--Choice "Against Democracy seems scarily prescient today. Writing well before the twin shocks of the Brexit and the U.S. elections, the Georgetown political scientist makes a powerful case that popular democracy can be dangerous--and, provocatively, that irrational and incompetent voters should be excluded from democratic decision-making. The case for elitism in governance never read so well."--Zocalo Public Square "Meticulous [and] crisply written."--Tom Clark, Prospect "Mercilessly well-argued."--Niko Kolodny, Boston Review

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Book SynopsisTrade Review[A] startling collection of essays . . . The passion and beauty of her voice is unabated . . . Azadi is the outcome of a life of writing from the frontline of solidarity and humanism, and from a writer who is perhaps only now reaching the height of her literary powers * Guardian *An eloquent and scorching indictment of the growing authoritarianism of Hindu nationalism . . . it is a tour de force * i *Azadi is a deeply-committed literary artist’s vision of what is wrong with our world today and a heartfelt appeal to join together to try and heal the wounds before it is too late * Telegraph India *

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Book SynopsisOne of the greatest, most radical public thinkers of our time' ARUNDHATI ROY In these incisive interviews, activist Chomsky addresses the urgent questions of this tumultuous time, speaking to the deterioration of democracy in the United States and rising tensions globally.He examines the crumbling of the social fabric and the fractures of the Biden era, including the halting steps toward a Green New Deal, the illegitimate authority of the Supreme Court, in particular its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade, and the ongoing fallout from COVID-19. Chomsky also untangles the roots of the War in Ukraine, the diplomatic tensions among the United States, China, and Russia, and considers the need for climate action on an international scale.Illegitimate Authority exposes those who wield power in their own self-interest and plots framework for how we can stand together and fight against injustice.''The West''s most prominent critic of US imperialism . . . the closest thing in the English-speaking world to an intellectual superstar'' Guardian''Will there ever again be a public intellectual who commands the attention of so many across the planet?'' New Statesman

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Book SynopsisSHORTLISTED FOR THE IRISH BOOK AWARDS 2021The riveting story of a nation at a crucial crossroadsFrom the start of his stint as RTÉ''s Washington Correspondent Brian O''Donovan''s lively and authoritative reporting of a tumultuous period in American life has been must-watch TV.Four Years in the Cauldron is his account of four busy years working in the US. He draws a compelling picture, full of telling colour and detail, of covering its fractured politics, particularly the extraordinary presidency of Donald Trump and the knife-edge election of Joe Biden. And he gives his unique perspective on big stories such as the Covid emergency, the Capitol riot, the murder of George Floyd and trial and conviction of his police killer.He also provides a visceral sense of what it''s like living in a country shaped by guns, God, far-fetched conspiracy theories and the running sore of racism. Yet, drawing on his network of contacts, neighbours, friTrade Review[O'Donovan] captures well both the frenetic life of a reporter . . . and the Punch and Judy period in American politics that was the Trump presidency * Irish Times *An intriguing look at an extraordinary time . . . the book brings us to some fascinating places -- Ryan TubridyA great read * The Last Word with Matt Cooper *An amazing book, full of stories and anecdotes -- Neil Prendeville * Red FM *

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Book SynopsisThe 21st century has not seen the triumph of democracy that some predicted but instead, in many cases, a turn towards authoritarian forms of government as an imagined solution to the many crises facing humanity. This innovative and important book draws on examples from around the world to examine the spread of draconian and nationalistic forms of government: a lurch towards ‘authoritarian protectionism’ which observes a simple maxim, that ‘the world may end for others, but not for us’. While there is hope that the COVID-19 crisis could lead to a reinvigoration of democracy and a new economic agenda, there is also the risk of a further slide towards authoritarian rule and an urgent need for democratic renewal and change to combat this. The novel conceptualization offered in this book will give readers a new and deeper insight into the changing nature of the authoritarian threat to democracy – and how it might be overcome.Trade Review"It is a great research primer for all scholars in the field, and an informative work for curious readers who want to strengthen their understanding of contemporary events with robust knowledge." The London School of Economics and Political ScienceTable of Contents1. On the March 2. Them and Us 3. 'I Will Protect You' 4. Pandemic Politics 5. Sino-America 6. Authoritarian Futures?

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Book SynopsisThe words of a man. The message of a people.Bringing together a new introduction by Volodymyr Zelensky with his most powerful war speeches, this book recounts Ukraine's war through the words of its president. It is the story of a people valiantly defending themselves from Russian aggression. And it is a battle cry for us all to stand up, support Ukraine and fight for democracy.'The Ukraine president's storytelling skills and sense of moral purpose elevate his war speeches in this compelling collection . . . The tribune of freedom.' ObserverIncludes a new preface plus three additional speeches selected by President Zelensky.Trade ReviewThe incredible speeches Zelensky wishes he'd never had to give . . . A remarkable book * The Times *The Ukraine president's storytelling skills and sense of moral purpose elevate his war speeches in this compelling collection . . . The tribune of freedom * Book of the Week, Observer *Genial, witty, personable, scathing . . . I read every single one * Telegraph *Read this book -- John SweeneyA book that everybody should read . . . Everyone should have a copy under the Christmas tree -- Andrew Marr * LBC *

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Book SynopsisSince its’ inception, the European Union has developed to become an open and transparent system which is democratically accountable to more than five hundred million European citizens. James Elles explains how the EU functions, emphasising the emerging role of the European Parliament in the process. Elles reviews the history of Britain’s relationship with the EU and illustrates how a reluctance to consult the British people on multiple Treaty changes led to a lack of understanding about Brussels. Looking to the future, Elles assesses the global long-term trends that lie ahead to 2030 and underlines that closer European cooperation, for example on environmental and digital policies, will help them to be more easily resolved. As the next decade unfurls, the EU with President Macron at the forefront of the debate will progress and the European Parliament will continue to develop as a platform for the voice of the European people. From the disinterest of political leaders to the ambitions of emerging nations, Fiction, Fact and Future is not only a guide to why Britain failed to make the most of its EU membership, but also an optimistic message to a younger generation to help shape their future in the 21st century.Trade ReviewPraise for Haus Curiosities series: "The thinking person's commuting read."--Independent

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Book Synopsisaeo This is Habermasa s long--awaited work on law and democracy. aeo It develops a distinctive account of the nature of law and an original concept of democracy. aeo As one of Habermasa s most important works, it will be recognized as a major contribution to current debates in social theory, political theory, and philosophy.Trade Review'Rich, important ... proceeding through the magisterial scrutiny of theoretical approaches in law, sociology, philosophy and politics, it offers plenty for students of these disciplines to chew on.' Times Higher Education Supplement 'A significant development of his theory ... Rehg's translation of Between Facts and Norms is clear and precise and his Introduction helpful.' British Journal of Sociology 'In Between Facts and Norms, Habermas offers an inspiring and intellectually stimulating diagnosis of the predicament of modern law ... his contribution will undoubtedly have a lasting influence on this crucially important debate.' Democratization 'For at least a generation Jurgen Habermas's work has made a significant impact on a variety of important debates in philosophy and the social sciences. Between Facts and Norms ... brings together many of Habermas's earlier concerns and weaves them into a comprehensive and brilliant critical theory of actually existing democracy. From the perspective of the discipline of politics this is undoubtedly Habermas's most important work. Of course, Habermas's work is dense, challenging and incredibly broad in its range. It is also controversial, and this work will certainly not win over his most trenchant critics. None of this amounts to a valid excuse to ignore it. This book really is essential reading for anyone who is interested in exploring at depth the possibilities of realizing a genuinely democratic future.' Political Studies 'Such a scholarly intensity deserves to be read at first hand.' Sociology, Ian Roberts, Univerisity of Durham 'Eleven Years after his monumental Theory of Communicative Action (1981), Jürgen Habermas has again presented an opus magnum.' Otfried Höffe, Universität Tübingen, Mind Jürgen Habermas has been awarded the prestigious 'Friedenspreis des deutschen Buchhandels' prize for 2001Table of ContentsTranslator's Introduction. Preface. 1. Law as a Category of Social Mediation between Facts and Norms. 2. The Sociology of Law versus the Philosophy of Justice. 3. A Reconstructive Approach to Law I: The System of Rights. 4. A Reconstructive Approach to Law II: The Principles of the Constitutional State. 5. The Indeterminacy of Law and the Rationality of Adjudication. 6. Judiciary and Legislature: On the Role and Legitimacy of Constitutional Adjudication. 7. Deliberative Politics: A Procedural Concept of Democracy. 8. Civil Society and the Political Public Sphere. 9. Paradigms of Law. Postscript (1994). Appendices. Notes. Bibliography. Index.

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Book SynopsisIn this book, Robert Leeson and Charles Palm have assembled an amazing collection of Milton Friedman’s best works on freedom. Even more amazing is that the selection represents only 1 percent of the 1,500 works by Friedman that Leeson and Palm have put online in a user-friendly format—and an even smaller percentage if you include their archive of Friedman’s audio and television recordings, correspondence, and other writings. This book and the larger online collection are sorely needed and very welcome. Milton Friedman deserves to be read in the original by generation after generation.Trade Review “Milton Friedman lives on because his ideas are forever and his expository skills are unsurpassed, as shown in this book of special importance in today’s world.”—George P. Shultz, Thomas W. and Susan B. Ford Distinguished Fellow, Hoover Institution, Stanford University, former US Secretary of State, Labor, and Treasury, and director, Office of Management and Budget “We live in an age when political, economic, religious and speech freedoms are both under attack and taken for granted. That makes these penetrating insights and trenchant analyses by their great champion, Milton Friedman, essential reading for all, both those who value freedom’s great blessings and those who don’t but should.”—Michael J. Boskin, Tully M. Friedman Professor of Economics at Stanford University and former chairman of the President’s Council of Economic Advisers “At a moment when free societies and their defenders are under growing ideological assault, Milton Friedman’s incisive essays powerfully remind us of what it means to be free—and why it matters. This is a luminous, timely, and necessary book.”—George H. Nash, historian, author of The Conservative Intellectual Movement in America Since 1945 and a three-volume biography of Herbert Hoover, and a senior fellow at the Russell Kirk Center for Cultural Renewal

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Book SynopsisFor two centuries classical Athens enjoyed almost uninterrupted democratic government. This was not a parliamentary democracy of the modern sort but a direct democracy in which all citizens were free to participate in the business of government. Throughout this period Athens was the cultural centre of Greece and one of the major Greek powers. This book traces the development and operation of the political system and explores its underlying principles. Christopher Carey assesses the ancient sources of the history of Athenian democracy and evaluates criticisms of the system, ancient and modern. He also provides a virtual tour of the political cityscape of ancient Athens, describing the main political sites and structures, including the theatre. With a new chapter covering religion in the democratic city, this second edition benefits from updates throughout that incorporate the latest research and recent archaeological findings in Athens. A clearer structure and layout make theTrade ReviewA student-friendly text that draws from the author's deep well of knowledge. Carey has concisely presented the key evidence for the development, function, and ideology of Athenian democracy alongside his lucid interpretations. DCA strikes a balance both between a synchronic and diachronic view of Athenian democracy and between principles and institutions, a challenging achievement for a student handbook. Carey does an impressive job compressing the relevant information into a slim volume while providing enough commentary for undergraduates with little Classics or History background … The new, more thoroughly explained and functional DCA fills a general need for lower-and intermediate-level courses on Athenian democracy, democracies ancient and modern, Greek history, and Greek political thought. * Bryn Mawr Classical Review *Table of ContentsList of Illustrations Preface to the First Edition Note to the 2001 Corrected Reprint Preface to the Second Edition 1. First Thoughts 1.1 Defining Democracy 1.2 The Sources 2. The Road to Democracy 2.1 Aristocracy in Crisis – The Seventh Century 2.2 Solon’s Reforms 2.3 The Sixth Century Tyranny 2.4 The Reforms of Kleisthenes 2.5 The 460s and After 2.6 Democracy, Navy and Empire 2.7 The Intellectual Climate 2.8 The New Men 2.9 Oligarchic Interludes I: The Four Hundred 2.10 Oligarchic Interludes II: The Thirty 2.11 The Restored Democracy 2.12 Alexander and After 3. Democracy and Ideology 3.1 Democratic Ideology 3.2 The Limits of Equality 3.3 Citizenship 4 The Core Bodies 4.1 The Council 4.2 The Assembly 4.3 The Courts 5. Serving the Democracy 5.1 The Servants of the Demos 5.2 Officials Chosen by Lot 5.3 Elected Officials 5.4 The Secretariat 5.5 Public Speakers 5.6 Accountability, Risk and Reward 6. Religion in the Democratic City 7. Local Government: The Demes 8. The Democratic Landscape 9. Democracy and Its Critics Appendix 1 Suggested Further Reading Appendix 2 Glossary Appendix 3 Some Key Events Index

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Book SynopsisBaltimore. Ferguson. Tottenham. Clichy-sous-Bois. Oakland. Ours has become an "age of riots" as the struggle of people versus state and capital has taken to the streets. Award-winning poet and scholar Joshua Clover offers a new understanding of this present moment and its history. Rioting was the central form of protest in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, yet it was supplanted by age of the glorious strike and labour protests of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. From, from the seventies on, we're seen a return of the strike - now changed along with the coordinates of race and class.From early wage demands to recent social justice campaigns pursued through occupations and blockades, Clover connects these protests to the upheavals of a sclerotic economy in a state of moral collapse. Riot.Strike.Riot is a tour de force of political and theoretical analysis.Trade ReviewRiot, in this absolutely necessary book, is considered as differential procedure and rigorous improvisational method, as essential repertoire on the way from general malaise to general strike. But then this conception folds tightly yet disorderly into a new and open set of questions. It's not that the raging, ragged entrance to the new golden age is the new golden age. It's not that theory can't bear a riot. It's just that riot makes new ways of seeing what theory can and can't do and imposes upon us a kind of knowledge of our own embarrassing and already given resources of enjoyment. Joshua Clover says riot deserves a proper theory but here-sly, stone cold-he gives us more than that. Now we have some guidelines for the new and ongoing impropriety that fleshes forth and fleshes out our optimal condition. -- Fred Moten, scholar, activist, poet and author of In the Break: The Aesthetics of the Black Radical Tradition and The Undercommons: Fugitive Planning and Black StudyIn its sweep, rigor, and elegance, Riot. Strike. Riot. is pleasurable and provocative, worthy of the urgent debates it should inspire. -- Jeff Chang, author of Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation and Who We Be: The Colorization of AmericaRiot. Strike. Riot. is the crystalline analysis of this fraught moment-between communism and anarchism, between street protest and economic strike. Clover's text is clear without being simple, contemporary yet historical, and affectionate without being mawkish-much like a riot, in fact, it opens up the future while remembering that the past is comprised of little other than exploitation, exclusion and the kinds of violence that deliberately are attributed to the very people who suffer most from it. -- Nina Power, senior lecturer in philosophy at Roehampton University and author of One-Dimensional WomanOne of the liveliest, sharpest, and erudite cultural theorists in the US. -- Charles Mudede * The Stranger *Frisky, audacious . Riot. Strike. Riot screams across the sky of our electoral theater. -- Michael Robbins * Chicago Tribune *[Riot. Strike. Riot] thrills. It elucidates and, in a way, valorizes a taboo fixture of the political arena in an era of seemingly perpetual economic crisis and withering patience for mere reform. -- Sam Lefebvre * East Bay Express *Phenomenal...The genius of Riot. Strike. Riot lies in its concise and historically confident analysis of riots. -- Justin Slaughter * Public Books *Joshua Clover provides a history of the present that is at once erudite and militant. In unfailingly elegant prose he not only traces where today's struggles came from but also proposes how they can chart the path to a new future. -- Michael Hardt, co-author of AssemblyIf communism is, as Marx wrote, "the real movement which abolishes the present state of things," then Joshua Clover is its most lucid and uncompromising contemporary theorist. Among its many virtues, Riot.Strike.Riot explains how our time of stagnant economic growth, exclusionary state violence, and uprisings of those left without reserves, might be capitalism's end times. In doing so, he challenges all of us who are committed to bending the status quo toward justice to an ambition adequate to its breaking point. -- Nikhil Pal Singh, author of Race and America’s Long WarWhy do we find police in places where there was once an economy? This unique book is abrilliant, clearheaded analysis of the historical relation between two forms of struggle, focusingon the riot, a pre-capitalist form returning in the transformed mode of "riot prime" as one of themost telling forms of our late capitalist present. Along the way, Joshua Clover gives us muchneeded concepts to deal with the strange new negations we have come to encounter in thismoment of waning accumulation-Long Crisis, the production of nonproduction, aerosolizedproduction-as capital shifts its center of gravity to circulation, and nonlabor struggles emerge asthe logical form of social conflict based on shared distance from labor markets rather than sharedlabor conditions. R-S-R' is a theory of riot but as such, crucially, a theory of periodization; it isessential reading for all students of the present. -- Sianne Ngai, author of Our Aesthetic Categories: Zany, Cute, Interesting

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Book SynopsisThe Sunday Times bestseller. 'A compulsively readable, carefully researched account of how a malignant combination of rightwing ideology, secretive money (much of it from the US) and weaponisation of social media have shaped contemporary British (and to a limited extent, European) politics... Remarkable' Observer, Book of the Week Democracy is in crisis, and unaccountable and untraceable flows of money are helping to destroy it. This is the story of how money, vested interests and digital skulduggery are eroding trust in democracy. Antiquated electoral laws are broken with impunity, secretive lobbying is bending our politics out of shape and Silicon Valley tech giants collude in selling out democracy. Politicians lie gleefully, making wild claims that can be shared instantly with millions on social media. Peter Geoghegan is a diligent, brilliant guide through the shadowy world of dark money and digital disinformation stretching from Westminster to Washington, and far beyond. Praise for Democracy for Sale: 'Thorough, gripping and vitally important' Oliver Bullough 'A brilliant description of the dark underbelly of modern democracy. Everyone should read it' Anne Applebaum 'A compelling and very readable story of the ongoing corruption of our government and therefore ourselves' Anthony Barnett 'As urgent as it is illuminating' Fintan O'Toole 'This urgent, vital book is essential reading for anyone who wants to make sense of our politics' Carole Cadwalladr 'This forensic and highly readable book shows how so many of our democratic processes have moved into the murky, unregulated spaces of globalisation and digital innovation' Peter Pomerantsev 'A call to arms for all those who value democracy' The Herald 'Geoghegan's words are those of someone who is prepared to keep fighting to defend and revitalise what shadows of democracy still remain'ScotsmanTrade ReviewDemocracy for Sale forensically exposes the fault lines in our politics, and reveals how they have been exploited by the rich and the powerful to further their own interests -- Oliver Bullough, author of MoneylandForensic and highly readable -- Peter Pomerantsev, author of This is Not PropagandaAs urgent as it is illuminating' Fintan O -- Toole, author of Heroic FailureA compelling and very readable story of the ongoing corruption of our government and therefore ourselves -- Anthony Barnett, author of Iron BritanniaA brilliant description of the dark underbelly of modern democracy: dark money, influence games and the new tactics of the new far-right. Everyone should read it -- Anne Applebaum, author of GulagPeter Geoghegan's investigations into Brexit have been essential reading. Now this urgent, vital book is essential reading for anyone who wants to make sense of our politics -- Carole CadwalladrInvestigative journalist and Big Issue contributor Peter Geoghegan has followed the money to uncover the story of how undisclosed donations have infiltrated British politics, undermining public faith in democracy and fuelling the rise of populism across the West * Big Issue *Peter Geoghegan's absorbing and disturbing new book is a call to arms for all those who value democracy... [It is] meticulously researched and highly readable' -- HeraldA damning insight into the dark money which underpins huge areas of global politics... A dispiriting read, exposing a rot which seems to have spread throughout politics across the western world and whose stranglehold appears to be growing. This is was makes it so vital... Geoghegan's words are those of someone who is prepared to keep fighting to defend and revitalise what shadows of democracy still remain' * Scotsman *A fine book. It's a compulsively readable, carefully researched account of how a malignant combination of rightwing ideology, secretive money (much of it from the US) and weaponisation of social media have shaped contemporary British (and to a limited extent, European) politics... [A] remarkable book' * Observer. *Its lucid and compelling narrative explores the likes of disinformation, propaganda, and the way in which technology's rapid evolution renders legislative and regulatory frameworks redundant. At the heart of it all, of course, is money, and Geoghegan offers a perceptive analysis of how the US and British systems differ, and how they compare * Scotsman *We are only at the beginning of understanding how the 21st-century confluence of opaque money, extreme politics and digital technology has frayed our democracy. This book is an important part of that process. We are a long way from having viable solutions, but we owe a debt to relentless journalists like Geoghegan for starting the work of rooting out the source of stench before it overwhelms us * irish Times Weekend *A shocking story of how money, vested interests and digital skulduggery are eroding trust in democracy – and a powerful account of what must be done about it * Irish Times Weekend *[Democracy for Sale] should be the most discussed political book of the year. It is by turns balanced, authoritative, revelatory and scandalous. As the web and unsourced money twist elections, the subject could not be more urgent * Observer *A damning insight into the dark money which underpins huge areas of global politics... Enlightening and alarming... Geoghegan's words are those of someone who is prepared to keep fighting to defend and revitalise what shadows of democracy still remain' * Scotsman *A very timely treatise on what technology allied to dark money can achieve. Released last year in print, it is only just available on audio with author Peter Geoghegan doing a fine job of narrating * Irish Examiner *Excellent * National *Solidly investigative and highly readable * New Internationalist *I urge people to read it and reflect * National *This is what you've been waiting for if you want a clear, jargon-free, exhaustively detailed and wonderfully readable book that explains the bizarre nature of British 'democracy' and the farce that is 'The Mother of all Parliaments'. It's no exaggeration to say that Peter Geoghegan's remorseless analysis [...] is among the very finest guides to the Cayman Islands-on-the-Channel that the UK is becoming * Chartist *

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Book SynopsisDemocracy operates on consent. That means politicians have to argue their causes and win consensus. But democracy has its flaws, not least in the lack of efficiency in the decision-making process. Above all, democracy requires honesty: in facing up to challenges, acknowledging fears and dangers, and admitting the limitations of government. In this new book, two figures of the British political establishment, John Major and Nick Clegg, share their thoughts on where democracy is heading and how it can survive in the 21st century. Major writes of the qualities on which a healthy democracy depends, as he deplores the coarsening of political exchange. Clegg writes of the ways in which political language has always involved trading insults and argues that echo chambers, although now more sophisticated, are nothing new. Compromise, Clegg insists, is not betrayal, but the very substance of our politics and our democracy.The Responsibilities of Democracy explores the overall health of UK democracy, giving a balanced analysis of its values and flaws. It is also a clarion call to the electorate and politicians to nurture and protect the gentle values on which democracy depends. No reader seeking to understand democracy can afford to ignore this book.Trade ReviewPraise for Haus Curiosities series: `The thinking person's commuting read.' - Independent

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Book SynopsisFrom the 2023 Reith lecturer Politics is failing us. This is why. ''Brilliant . . . a must-read'' Daron Acemoglu, co-author of Why Nations FailWhen it comes to politics, there are five goals that voters generally agree upon. We all want a say in how we''re governed, to be treated equally, a safety net when times are hard, protection from harm and to be richer in the future. So, why does politics not deliver that?The problem is each of these five goals results in a political trap. For example, we all want a say in how we''re governed, but it''s impossible to have any true ''will of the people''. And we want to be richer tomorrow, but what makes us richer in the short run makes us poorer over the long haul.In Why Politics Fails, award-winning Oxford professor Ben Ansell draws on examples from Ancient Greece through Brexit to vividly illustrate how we can escape these traps, overcome self-interest and deliver onTrade ReviewA meticulous study of how different societies find it so difficult to achieve widely shared goals, like democracy, equality, a decent welfare state, security from crime and sustainable prosperity -- Nick Pearce * Financial Times *Salutary reading for the world we live in now -- James A. Robinson, co-author of Why Nations FailBrilliant ... a must-read -- Daron Acemoglu, co-author of Why Nations FailI think the book is beautifully written and engaging. Ben has the rare gift of writing like he talks, and even when he gets out of storytelling mode into "here's the facts" it's an engaging read. I also think book-readers are ready for a message that isn't telling us that we are marching steadily towards a better world. Nor does hopeless disaster - endless polarization, climate apocalypse - await humanity. The truth, as usual, is in the middle. Politics is hard. There are trade-offs. If we want to build a better society, let's put aside naive optimism and pessimism and get more sophisticated -- Chris Blattman, author of Why We FightA must-read ... In an era of great challenges to the world, the urgency of what Ansell shows us, practical ways to overcoming political obstacles to collective decision making, is all the more timely -- Victor Shih, UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy

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Book SynopsisExam Board: SQALevel: HigherSubject: Modern StudiesFirst Teaching: August 2018First Exam: June 2019A course textbook covering the most recent political developments and fully updated to take on board the latest SQA course assessment changes. Written specifically to match the Higher syllabus offered by the Scottish Qualifications Authority, Democracy in Scotland and the UK covers all of the topics that students will encounter in this unit of the course: UK constitutional arrangements, representative democracy and the political process, electoral systems and voting behaviour. - Questions to help monitor progress throughout the topics - Case studies and fact files to focus attention on specific areas - Assessment guides to prepare students for the final exam

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Book Synopsis** The Sunday Times #1 Bestseller**'One of the greatest political memoirs of all time' GuardianWhat happens when you take on the European establishment? Read as world-famous, provocative economist, and former Greece finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, blows the lid on his battle with EU officials over the Greek debt crisis. Varoufakis sparked one of the most spectacular and controversial battles in recent political history with his attempt to renegotiate Greece’s relationship with the European Union. Yet despite the mass support of the Greek people, and simple logic of his arguments, he succeeded only in provoking the fury of Europe’s political, financial and media elite. Exposing the real business taking place behind the EU’s closed doors, Varoufakis reveals all in this fearless, personal account. Adults In The Room is an extraordinary tale of brinkmanship, hypocrisy, collusion and betrayal that will shake the European and economic establishment to its foundations. Varoufakis is sending out an urgent wake-up call to renew European democracy before it is too late.**ONE OF THE GUARDIAN'S 100 BEST BOOKS OF THE 21st CENTURY**Trade ReviewVaroufakis has written one of the greatest political memoirs of all time [and] one of the most accurate and detailed descriptions of modern power ever written * Guardian *An important, terrifying must-read. In particular, it anatomises the way in which EU leaders operate with a brutal clarity … shocking and ultimately tragic … He gets to the heart of their failure more acutely than anyone … Varoufakis has the greatest political virtues of all – courage and honesty * The Times *A tremendously indiscreet account … drawing upon his own audio recordings and diaries of top-level meetings. It is deeply personal and very well written * Financial Times *The most jaw-dropping segments are the accounts of phone calls and closed-door meetings – often verbatim, courtesy of his secret recordings – between ministers and technocrats ... We see duplicity and cynicism ruling supreme .. A convincing critique ... Our own government should take note * Daily Telegraph *This is a superbly written account of the struggle to alleviate the austerity imposed upon the Greek people by the eurozone. Greece, argues Varoufakis, has been put in a debtors’ prison and robbed of autonomy and dignity for the indefinite future. Critics would argue that he failed as finance minister in 2015 because he was insufficiently politic. More plausibly, he could never have succeeded, such were the vested interests arrayed against him. This outcome was — and is — a tragedy, because he was — and is — right. The bulk of Greek debt should indeed be cancelled outright. Read and weep -- Martin Wolf, Financial Times Summer ReadsAstonishing … not simply a political biography but a reflection on the nature and meaning of power in our times … This really is an important book … you should read it … This book could be a game changer if it shakes we the people from our compliant slumber as passengers within the sinking ship of contemporary high power * Open Democracy *Riveting … an extraordinary account of low cunning at the heart of Greece’s 2015 financial bailout … Admirably, he eschews denunciations, finding the human in his adversaries, even in his darkest moments * Observer *A blistering account ... should be required reading for David Davis and the government’s Brexit negotiating team * Scotsman *A fascinating reveal on the hidden world of what he calls the "deep establishment"… Varoufakis is a master of clarity and, as Theresa May prepares to steer the good ship GB through the dangerous shoals of Brexit, this is an invaluable account of how the political establishment really works * City AM *One of my few heroes. As long as people like Varoufakis are around, there still is hope -- Slavoj ŽižekTogether with Bernie Sanders, Varoufakis is the only other honest politician around -- Noam ChomskyThe most interesting man in the world * Business Insider *The Thucydides of our time -- Jeffrey SachsA brilliant economist * Bloomberg *Few finance ministers have such a talent for economics as Yanis Varoufakis -- Joseph StiglitzIt is important to take note of the ideas that Varoufakis continues to espouse … the essence of [his] agenda was – and remains – largely correct -- Mohamed El-ErianA global celebrity * Economist *His words about the European crisis speak universal truths about democracy, capitalism and social policy * Guardian *Timely and important * Big Issue *Timely and important * Big Issue *A whistle-blowing memoir that doubles as a penetrating analysis of the eurozone crisis, one caused in Varoufakis’s view by the stubbornness and ideological dogmatism of what he calls Europe’s “deep establishment.” As Britain prepares to enter exit negotiations with the EU, many will turn to this book for insights… Adults in the Room has a fly-on-the-wall quality that makes it a captivating read -- Chris Bickerton * Prospect *Passionate, indiscreet and forceful revenge on the smug elite of the European Union -- Colm Tóibín * Irish Times *Varoufakis’ book… should be required reading for anyone who believes that a Brexit outcome satisfactory to the UK is likely -- Richard Joyner * Times Higher Education *Outstanding -- William Hague * Daily Telegraph *

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Book SynopsisWe are seeing the rise of a populist moment around the world on both the left and the right. Movements like Bernie Sander, Jeremy Corbyn, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez have emerged in the midst of the neoliberal crisis. In this book, leading political thinker Chantal Mouffe proposes a left-populist strategy that could bring together the manifold struggles against subordination, oppression and discrimination. In redrawing political frontiers, this "populist moment" points to a "return of the political" after years of postpolitics. This return may open the way for authoritarian solutions-through regimes that weaken liberal-democratic institutions-but it could also lead to a reaffirmation and extension of democratic values.Trade ReviewInfluencing left parties as they enter government, from Greece to Portugal to Mexico. It is a beach-sized introduction to a major left thinker of the twenty-first century. -- Paul Mason * Guardian *Refreshingly bereft of the sputtering outrage and bafflement that characterizes the growing genre of liberal self-help books, Mouffe channels populism's agonistic clarity. * n+1 *An admirable attempt to get us thinking again about what a worthwhile politics might look like, one based on notions of equality, ecology, sovereignty, solidarity and social justice. * New Statesman *Argues in favor of leftist populism as a means to combat both elitist, neoliberal technocracy and reactionary, xenophobic versions of populism. * Publishers Weekly *

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Book SynopsisMaged Mandour is an Egyptian political analyst who writes regularly for outlets such as Middle East Eye, openDemocracy, the Arab Digest, and the journal of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. He has made a number of media appearances as a commentator on Egyptian affairs and is a graduate of the University of Cambridge, UK.Trade ReviewMaged Mandour's is a voice that is crucial to an understanding of contemporary Egypt. The acute economic analyses and political acumen he brings to all his work is the measure of a writer committed to rigorous, objective and robust journalism. For anyone even mildly interested in the country and its trajectory Egypt Under Sisi is a must-read. * Wlliam Law, Editor, Arab Digest *Mandour captured the essence of the past decade’s trajectory in Egypt. Maged carefully traces the re-emergence of Egypt’s military within a polarized social and political context. Painstaking, thoughtful, and vivid, Mandour’s voice not only bears witness but cuts through to the crux of Egypt's current dynamics. A highly recommended read for anyone looking to understand Egypt and grapple with its future. * Intissar Fakir, Senior Fellow and Director, Middle East Institute · *In this striking and beautifully written analysis of Egypt under Al-Sisi, Maged Mandour tears away the façade of military continuity, laying bare how, in the wake of Tahrir Square, deep restructuring and ideological transformation concentrated power in a dictatorship that is a radically new phenomenon – not only violently repressive but also structurally barricaded against democracy. It is a shocking, meticulously documented account of the complete militarization of the Egyptian state, which Mandour subtly reveals is also ruinously brittle, a flaw that could eventually shatter the whole edifice. * Roxane Farmanfarmaian, Dr, University of Cambridge, UK *Mandour demonstrates powerfully through this detailed anatomy of the regime of Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi that it represents a radical break in modern Egyptian history, differing significantly from all the authoritarian regimes that preceded it since the army overthrew the monarchy in 1952. Mandour makes two special contributions. First, revealing the extent to which “the regime is following a deliberate policy of militarization of civilian institutions.” And second, showing that this regime is wedded to violence to a pathological degree - we are used to associating depraved, pleasure-taking violence to the brutal regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Asad, but Sisi’s draws from similar wells. * Yezid Sayigh, Senior Fellow, Malcolm H. Kerr Carnegie Middle East Center *Egypt under El-Sisi is without a doubt a necessary read for anyone trying to grasp the basic ways Egyptian political life has been transformed under Abdel Fattah El-Sisi. -- Usman Butt * The New Arab *Table of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Genesis Chapter 2: The New Leviathan Chapter 3: There will be blood Chapter 4: Pots, Pans, and Guns Chapter 5: Ozymandias

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Book Synopsis*The International Bestseller*''Superb, hugely enjoyable ... a spirited examination of the hubris and hypocrisy of the super-rich who claim they are helping the world'' Aditya Chakrabortty, GuardianWhat explains the spreading backlash against the global elite? In this revelatory investigation, Anand Giridharadas takes us into the inner sanctums of a new gilded age, showing how the elite follow a ''win-win'' logic, fighting for equality and justice any way they can - except ways that threaten their position at the top. But why should our gravest problems be solved by consultancies, technology companies and corporate-sponsored charities instead of public institutions and elected officials? Why should we rely on scraps from the winners? Trenchant and gripping, this is an indispensable guide and call to action for elites and citizens alike.Trade ReviewA splendid polemic. . . Giridharadas writes brilliantly on the parasitic philanthropy industry * Economist *Trenchant, provocative and well-researched. . . Read it and beware -- Martha Lane Fox * Financial Times Books of the Year *Hugely enjoyable. . . A spirited examination of the hypocrisy of the super-rich who claim they are helping the world -- Aditya Chakrabortty * Guardian *Entertaining and gripping . . . For those at the helm, the philanthropic plutocrats and aspiring "change agents" who believe they are helping but are actually making things worse, it's time for a reckoning with their role in this spiraling dilemma -- Joseph Stiglitz * New York Times Book Review *Giridharadas isn't afraid to speak his mind, even if it means taking down some of the most powerful people on the planet. . . He has started a movement with this scathing critique of a society that rewards monopolistic models, faux philanthropy and protects the interests of a wealthy few -- Tabitha Goldstaub * Forbes *A fierce book. . . What gives Giridharadas's heartfelt critique such force is that he is a heretic, someone chosen for the equivalent of the priesthood in the new religion of philanthropy who had a revelation and decided to renounce the faith -- Iain Martin * The Times *

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Book SynopsisAuthoritarianism is one of the buzzwords of our age. But what is it exactly? This Very Short Introduction provides a comprehensive overview of the world of authoritarian regimes, including military, single-party, and personalist regimes. It considers how understandings of authoritarianism have evolved over time, as well as the curious fact that many authoritarian regimes today hold elections. Drawing on examples from Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, and the Middle East, James Loxton examines the life cycle of authoritarian regimes. How are they born? What challenges do they face during life? Why do they die? The author shows how factors such as natural resource wealth and cross-border collaboration can contribute to authoritarian durability. He also highlights the disturbing fact that even when authoritarian regimes collapse, voters often use their newfound democratic rights to send former authoritarian officials back to office.

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Book SynopsisDemocracy requires a connection to the ''will of the people''. What does that mean in a world of ''fake news'', relentless advocacy, dialogue mostly among the like-minded, and massive spending to manipulate public opinion? What kind of opinion can the public have under such conditions? What would democracy be like if the people were really thinking in depth about the policies they must live with? If they really ''deliberated'' with good information about their political choices?This book argues that ''deliberative democracy'' is not utopian. It is a practical solution to many of democracy''s ills. It can supplement existing institutions with practical reforms. It can apply at all levels of government and for many different kinds of policy choices. This volume speaks to a recurring dilemma: listen to the people and get the angry voices of populism or rely on widely distrusted elites and get policies that seem out of touch with the public''s concerns. Instead, there are methods for getting a representative and thoughtful public voice that is really worth listening to. Democracy is under siege in most countries, where democratic institutions have low approval and face a resurgent threat from authoritarian regimes. Deliberative democracy can provide an antidote and can reinvigorate our democratic politics. Democracy When the People Are Thinking draws on the author''s research with many collaborators on ''Deliberative Polling''-a process conducted in 27 countries on six continents. It contributes both to political theory and to the empirical study of public opinion and participation. It should interest anyone concerned about the future of democracy and how it can be revitalized.Trade ReviewFishkin's book is worthwhile...important work. * Margaret Petrie, University of Edinburgh, Concept *Stanford University professor Jim Fishkin has been the prime apostle and practitioner of deliberative democracy for well over 20 years, with projects in over a hundred countries and jurisdictions ranging from Mongolia to California. Now history has caught up with this pioneer. * Nathan Gardels, The World Post *This is the book of a convinced deliberative democrat who is willing to keep up the fight for democracy with the help of political imagination and institutional innovation. ..it is utterly refreshing to read a book describing, analyzing, and promoting practical designs for empowering the people to actually rule themselves. * Cristina Lafont The Good Society *This book may - and I hope will - change the face of democracy. With examples from California, Texas, Mongolia, Uganda, China, Japan, Macau, Australia, the UK, and Europe, Fishkin shows how a representative body of citizens, chosen by lot and stratified to include all relevant sections of the community, can, after deliberating, come to informed conclusions that have a major impact on key public decisions. Case upon case breaks new ground in the growing global movement to harness the intelligence and legitimacy of citizens drawn by lot. * Jane Mansbridge, Charles F. Adams Professor of Political Leadership and Democratic Values, Harvard Kennedy School. *A provocative book that makes the case for the importance of deliberation as the foundation of real democracy. It challenges our beliefs about what is possible and outlines an institutional framework for creating a real deliberative democracy. It is an antidote to those who are pessimistic about the future of democracy. * Norman M. Bradburn, Senior Fellow, NORC at the University of Chicago *Table of ContentsPart I: Introduction 1. Party Competition and Its Limits 2. Deliberation and Reform Part II: Can the People Rule? 1. Four Criteria for Popular Control 2. Four Forms of Democracy 3. Popular Control in Competitive Democracies 4. 5. Manipulation 6. Elite Deliberation and Popular Control: Madison's Filter 7. Participatory Democracy and Democratic Control: From Town Meetings to Referenda 8. Reflections on the Athenian Case Part III: Making Deliberation Practical 1. Designing Deliberative Democracy James S. Fishkin, Thad Kousser, Robert C. Luskin, and Alice Siu: 2. Deliberative Agenda Setting: California In One Room 3. Mongolia: Deliberative Participatory Budgeting James S. Fishkin, Roy William Mayega, Lynn Atuyambe, Nathan Tumuhamye, Julius Ssentongo, Alice Siu and William Bazeyo: 4. Applying Deliberative Democracy in Africa: Uganda's First Deliberative Polls James S Fishkin, Robert C. Luskin and Alice Siu: 5. Deliberating European Wide Part IV: Re-imagining Democratic Possibilities 1. Designs for Deliberation: Where and How? 2. It Works in Practice, But Does It Work in Theory? 3. From Thought Experiments to Real Experiments: Reflections on Rawls and Habermas 4. Deliberative Democracy and Candidate Selection 5. Texas: Connecting Public Deliberation to Policy Elites 6. Connecting Deliberative Designs to Participatory Democracy 7. Deliberating Before Ballot Propositions: Reflecting on the 'Australian Republic' 8. Japan: Deliberation for Hard Choices 9. Deliberation Day 10. Connecting Deliberative Democracy to Constitutional Change 11. Speculating on New Institutions 12. Mongolia Deliberates for Constitutional Change 13. 'Deliberative Authoritarianism'? 14. 'Deliberative Systems' and Popular Control 15. Toward Collective Self-Rule Appendix

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Book Synopsis** #4 New York Times bestseller **In Democracy Awakening, American historian Heather Cox Richardson examines how, over the decades, an elite minority have made war on American ideals. By weaponising language and promoting false history, they are leading Americans into authoritarianism and creating a disaffected population.Many books tell us what has happened over the last five years. In Democracy Awakening, Richardson wrangles America''s meandering and confusing news feed into a coherent story to explain how America got to this perilous point, what we should pay attention to, and what the future of democracy holds.Trade ReviewA vibrant, and essential history of America's unending, enraging and utterly compelling struggle since its founding to live up to its own best ideals... It's both a cause for hope, and a call to arms. * Jane Mayer, author of Dark Money *An excellent primer for anyone who needs the important facts of the last 150 years of American history -- Charles Kaiser * Guardian *The most lucid just-so story for Trump's rise I've ever heard. It's magisterial -- Virginia Heffernan * Washington Post *With her characteristic powerful prose, Heather Richardson explores the raging (in every sense of the word) political, cultural, and social forces that an elite minority has fostered to divide Americans, erode democracy, and rise to power. By reclaiming this history, she reminds us that democracy is a process, not an endpoint -- and that it demands our efforts now, more than ever. * Joanne Freeman, Professor of History at Yale University and author of Field of Blood *No one understands the warp and woof of the complicated tapestry that is the United States, no one apprehends the undertow and disparate forces that have directed the tides of American politics, no one forges the connections between then and now better than Heather Cox Richardson does. The result is a cogent, challenging, thoughtful, riveting and beautiful narrative. Brava! * Ken Burns, Filmmaker *For the last several turbulent years, millions have looked to Heather Cox Richardson's daily letters for vital historical perspective, wisdom, and moral clarity. In Democracy Awakening, Richardson goes beyond the news cycle to explain how we got here, placing our current political crisis against the age-old struggle to expand civil rights and economic opportunity. What emerges is a brilliant and honest account of our nation's past and present. If you care about American democracy-and are engaged in the fight to preserve it-this book is a must-read. * Preet Bharara, former U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York *An important addition to the burgeoning literature and scholarship on what I have characterized as America’s Third Reconstruction . . . she is at her best simply telling us the story of how we came to be living on the brink of ending our nearly 250-year democratic experiment -- Peniel Joseph * Democracy *A fresh historical interpretation of American democracy and its many challenges . . . It’s an unusual but effective structure, allowing Richardson to do what she does best: show her readers how history and the present are in constant conversation. Reminding us that 'how it comes out rests . . . in our own hands,' Richardson empowers us for the chapters yet to come * Kirkus *starred review* *Engaging and highly accessible * Boston Globe *

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Book SynopsisFrances Millard is Professor Emerita in the Department of Government, Member of the Human Rights Centre and former Dean of Social Sciences at the University of Essex. She is twice winner of the George Blazyca Prize of the British Association of Slavonic and East European Studies for the best book on Central and Eastern Europe.Trade ReviewIn this insightful and detailed account Frances Millard deftly charts and explains the twists and turns of Poland’s three decades of debates about transitional justice. The book deserves to be on the shelves of all scholars and students concerned with how states and societies deal with difficult pasts, but also those interested in the consequences that decisions to punish, prosecute or draw lines have on the health and fate of democracy. * Tim Haughton, University of Birmingham, UK *This is an extremely detailed and wide-ranging account of attempts to achieve transitional justice since the collapse of the Polish communist regime in 1989. It is a meticulously-researched piece of history writing, which explains the chequered progress of transitional justice with reference to developing political circumstances and without recourse to simplistic, one-sided explanations. Millard provides a thorough analysis of the legislation regarding each separate strand of transitional justice. * Anne White, UCL, UK *Table of Contents1. Introduction: Approaches to the Study of Transitional Justice 2. The Politics of Transitional Justice in Poland 3. The Prosecution of Past Crimes 4. Reparation through Rehabilitation and Compensation 5. The Restitution of Property 6. Lustration 1989-2005 7. Lustration after the fall of the SLD: The Return of the Right 8. Transitional Justice and the Role of the Constitutional Tribunal 9. The Role of the Institute of National Remembrance: The Politics of History and Memory 10. PiS: The End of Transitional Justice and the New Project of Social Transformation Index

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Book SynopsisStarting from the observation that the European Union now possesses many of the attributes of modern political systems, Hix and Høyland take an innovative approach to analysing, researching and teaching the EU. Using the general theories of political science to understand how the EU works, this text covers each of the main processes in the EU political system - executive, legislative and judicial politics, public opinion, interest groups and democracy, and regulatory, monetary and foreign policies - introducing the key political science tools, reviewing the relevant theories, and applying the knowledge in detailed descriptive analysis. As well as incorporating new data and the latest research, this new edition examines the consequences of the dramatic political and policy developments in the EU over the past decade. The methodology used in the text makes the political system of the EU accessible to political science students as a whole, as well as those specifically studying and reTrade ReviewThe study of the European Union should be firmly grounded on the latest scholarship, address the enduring questions with which scholars grapple, and employ the most appropriate analytical tools. The Political System of the European Union delivers on all these fronts. * Fabio Franchino, Professor of Political Science, University of Milan, Italy *This is the first and only book of its kind that fully marries our understanding of the EU with the broader political science literature. Even in its fourth edition the book continues to be a transformative tour de force. * Raj Chari, Professor in Political Science, Trinity College Dublin, Ireland *The Political System of the European Union is the ultimate introductory text for understanding the institutional design of the EU, how the EU works, the political opportunities and constraints under which it operates, and the major policies it has produced. Presenting key facts and rich empirical detail through the lens of state-of-the-art theories, the book places the EU in a comparative perspective, increasing its broader appeal. In a nutshell, this book is an essential read and an indispensable asset for all who study, teach, research, or are curious about the EU. * Nikoleta Yordanova, Associate Professor of European Politics, Leiden University, the Netherlands *For more than two decades, this has been the go-to title for those wanting to understand the EU as a system, with its integration of cutting-edge research and solid core principles. There is no better single-volume text that gets into the mechanics of European integration. * Simon Usherwood, Professor of Politics & International Studies, The Open University, UK *A much anticipated new edition of a classic book on the institutions, politics, and policies of the European Union. Exceptionally well-written, this fourth edition reaches the optimal balance between scientific rigor and pedagogical detail and analyses the EU in light of key theories of, and research on, comparative politics. The book is a must read for scholars and students of EU and comparative politics alike. * Adriana Bunea, Associate Professor of Comparative Politics, University of Bergen, Norway *Table of ContentsIntroduction: Explaining the EU Political System PART I: GOVERNMENT Executive Politics Legislative Politics Judicial Politics PART II: POLITICS Public Opinion Democracy, Parties and Elections Interest Representation PART III: POLICIES Regulation of the Single Market Expenditure Policies Economic and Monetary Union Interior Policies Foreign Policies Conclusion: A Political System in Crisis?

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Book SynopsisOffering a broad exploration of the cultural history of democracy in the medieval age, this volume claims that, though not generally associated with the term, the Middle Ages deserve to be included in a general history of democracy. The term was never widely employed during this period, the dominant attitude towards democracy was outright hostility, and none of the medieval polities thought of itself as a democracy. Despite this, this study highlights a wide variety of ideas, practices, procedures, and institutions that, although different from their ancient predecessor (direct democracy) or modern successor (liberal representative democracy), played a significant role in the history of democracy. This volume covers almost 1,000 years and a wide range of territories. It deals with different political spheres (ecclesiastical and secular) and socio-political settings (courtly, urban, and rural) and examines the phenomenon from the local level up to the universal realm. This voTable of ContentsList of Illustrations General Editor's Preface Introduction David Napolitano (Leiden University, Netherlands) and Kenneth J. Pennington (Catholic University of America, USA) 1. Sovereignty Kenneth J. Pennington (Catholic University of America, USA) 2. Liberty and the Rule of Law Atria A. Larson (Saint Louis University, USA) 3. The Common Good Jan Dumolyn (Ghent University, Belgium) 4. Economic and Social Democracy Peter Hoppenbrouwers (Leiden University, Netherlands) 5. Religion and the Principles of Political Obligation Joseph Canning (University of Cambridge, UK) 6. Citizenship and Gender Edward Muir (Northwestern University, USA) 7. Ethnicity, Race, and Nationalism Walter Pohl (University of Vienna, Austria) 8. Democratic Crises, Revolutions, and Civil Resistance Jelle Haemers (University of Leuven, Belgium) 9. International Relations Dante Fedele (French National Center for Scientific Research, France) 10. Beyond the Polis Gianluca Raccagni (University of Edinburgh, UK) Notes References Notes on Contributors Index

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Book SynopsisDemocracy is the most effective way to give us control over the decisions that impact on our lives, but it must evolve. This book lays out a roadmap for a more accountable democracy, locally, nationally and internationally that will give us greater influence over the decisions that impact our communities.Table of ContentsIntroduction: Playing by the rules 1. The importance of democracy 2. The evolution of democracy 3. Democracy as a system 4. Paying by the rules 5. The rules for politicians 6. The rules for public services 7. The rules for us Conclusion: Refereeing democracy

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Book SynopsisThe first panoramic history of the Western world from the 1970s to the present day: Empire of Democracy is the story for those asking how we got to where we are.Trade ReviewFormidably ambitious... boldly attempts to paint a thematic portrait of the world's democracies and delivers an argument that leaders grounded these political structures on free-market economics... There is much to admire in Reid-Henry's book * Financial Times *Brilliantly, Reid-Henry calls for the salvation of democracy from the choices of its own leaders - if it is to survive * Samuel Moyn, Yale University *[Empire of Democracy] yields insights that help us understand our present and imagine the possibilities of our future... The frontiers of the future can sometimes be discerned by studying the plains of our past. This book allows the reader to do both. * Sunday Business Post Ireland *A monumental and nuanced history of the past half-century * Irish Times *Simon Reid-Henry has written a superbly informed and riveting historical analysis of our contemporary era, which opened in the 1970s and, as he brilliantly demonstrates, continues to transform the premises of Western democracies * Charles S. Maier, Harvard University *Praise for Fidel and Che * . *As exciting and readable as a Cold War thriller * The Times *Gripping . . . deeply impressive . . . rigorously sourced * Independent *A lucid, pulsating study . . . skilfully drawn * Economist *Absorbing * Sunday Times *Reid-Henry makes the case for seeing our recent past as a distinct period, as well as showing that this era is drawing to a close. He does this convincingly, stylishly and with verve. This is as good a general account as we have of democracy's dysfunctions and discontents over the last 50 years, and a significant improvement on most of the books published recently on our current disorders... in this fine book he has at least provided some starting points for thinking about what we need to do next to overcomes the morbid systems of our age and build something new. * Irish Examiner *

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Book SynopsisLarge sections of democracy and its basic structures have recently been hijacked. By stealth, powerful elites have gradually gained control of the political sphere and transformed it to serve their own interests. The political systems of what appear to be established democracies in all corners of the world are showing signs of this takeover, which has led to widespread citizen disaffection and indignation. Kidnapped Democracy uses the metaphor of captivity to illustrate the differences and similarities between conventional kidnappings and the hijacking of a political system. The book’s nine chapters identify the kidnappers, the accomplices, the hostages, the victims and the negotiators before examining the effect of a peculiar Stockholm syndrome and, finally, reflecting on possible ways to secure the release of democracy.Trade ReviewA provocative reflection on the kidnapping of democracy that offers novel insights on debates that have been occupying critical thinkers for centuries, while providing a cogent critique of the state of democracy today. A valuable and original contribution to scholarship. -- Cristina Flesher Fominaya, Reader in Social Politics and Media, Loughborough University; Editor-in-Chief of Social Movement StudiesDemocracies are sadly capitulating, with disastrous consequences in terms of democratic accountability, quality of governance and equality. This insightful and beautifully written book must be read as an awakening call, a necessary and timely reminder that the fate of democracy lies with the unfettered determination of citizens to unmask the complex network of 'masters' that are stripping democracy of its representative identity. -- Kerman Calvo Borobia, Senior Lecturer in Sociology, University of Salamanca, SpainRamón Feenstra takes seriously the kidnap analogy as a conceptual tool with which to dissect the predicament of present-day democracies, engaging provocatively and meticulously with the identity, interests and strategies of both kidnappers and hostages, and the complex relationship between them, which culminates in a predictable and dramatic Stockholm syndrome. For how long will we be complacent, and will we justify the kidnap of our democracies and our lack of say in what happens to us? -- Sonia Alonso Saenz De Oger, Associate Professor of Government at Georgetown University School of Foreign Service, QatarThis is a wonderful book. Kidnapping is a very strong metaphor to understand the democratic deficits of our time. Moreover, this is the right self-help book for victimized citizens to overcome their Stockholm syndrome and to develop democratizing practices. -- Paul Dekker, Professor of Civil Society, Tilburg University, The NetherlandsTable of ContentsIntroduction Chapter 1: Raising the Alarm Chapter 2: The Hostages (I): Political Parties and Governments Chapter 3: The Hostages (II): The Mass Media Chapter 4: The Hostages (III): Trade Unions Chapter 5: Hostages or Accomplices? Chapter 6: The Kidnappers Chapter 7: Victims’ Response: From Stockholm Syndrome to Defiance Chapter 8: Negotiators Chapter 9: The Struggle for Liberation References About the Author Index

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Book Synopsis''A manual for the 21st-century citizen... accessible, refreshingly critical, relevant and urgent'' - Financial Times ''Fascinating and deeply disturbing'' - Yuval Noah Harari, Guardian Books of the Year In this New York Times bestseller, Cathy O''Neil, one of the first champions of algorithmic accountability, sounds an alarm on the mathematical models that pervade modern life -- and threaten to rip apart our social fabric.We live in the age of the algorithm. Increasingly, the decisions that affect our lives - where we go to school, whether we get a loan, how much we pay for insurance - are being made not by humans, but by mathematical models. In theory, this should lead to greater fairness: everyone is judged according to the same rules, and bias is eliminated. And yet, as Cathy O''Neil reveals in this urgent and necessary book, the opposite is true. The models being used today are opaque, unregulated, and incontestable, even when they''re wrong. Most troubling, they reinforce discrimination. Tracing the arc of a person''s life, O''Neil exposes the black box models that shape our future, both as individuals and as a society. These weapons of math destruction score teachers and students, sort CVs, grant or deny loans, evaluate workers, target voters, and monitor our health. O''Neil calls on modellers to take more responsibility for their algorithms and on policy makers to regulate their use. But in the end, it''s up to us to become more savvy about the models that govern our lives. This important book empowers us to ask the tough questions, uncover the truth, and demand change.Trade ReviewFascinating and deeply disturbing -- Yuval Noah Harari * Guardian Books of the Year *This is a manual for the 21st-century citizen, and it succeeds where other big data accounts have failed - it is accessible, refreshingly critical and feels relevant and urgent -- Federica Cocco * Financial Times *Well-written, entertaining and very valuable -- Danny Dorling * Times Higher Education *O'Neil has become a whistle-blower for the world of Big Data... Her work makes particularly disturbing points about how being on the wrong side of an algorithmic decision can snowball in incredibly destructive ways * Time *Cathy O'Neil has seen Big Data from the inside, and the picture isn't pretty. Weapons of Math Destruction opens the curtain on algorithms that exploit people and distort the truth while posing as neutral mathematical tools. This book is wise, fierce, and desperately necessary -- Jordan Ellenberg, author of How Not To Be WrongWeapons of Math Destruction is a fantastic, plainspoken call to arms. Cathy O'Neil's book is important precisely because she believes in data science. It's a vital crash course in why we must interrogate the systems around us and demand better -- Cory Doctorow, author of Little Brother and co-editor of Boing BoingOften we don't even know where to look for those important algorithms, because by definition the most dangerous ones are also the most secretive. That's why the catalogue of case studies in O'Neil's book are so important; she's telling us where to look * Guardian *In today's world, if you want to change your fate you've got to pray at the altar of the algorithm... As math guru Cathy O'Neil argues in her newest book, these models are just the latest way America's institutions perpetuate bias and prejudice to reward the rich and keep the poor, well, poor. It's a nuanced reminder that big data is only as good as the people wielding it * Wired *Not math heavy, but written in an exceedingly accessible, almost literary style; her fascinating case studies of WMDs fit neatly into the genre of dystopian literature. There's a little Philip K. Dick, a little Orwell, a little Kafka in her portrait of powerful bureaucracies ceding control of the most intimate decisions of our lives to hyper-empowered computer models riddled with all of our unresolved, atavistic human biases -- Chris Jackson * Paris Review *O'Neil is an ideal person to write this book... She is one of the strongest voices speaking out for limiting the ways we allow algorithms to influence our lives and against the notion that an algorithm, because it is implemented by an unemotional machine, cannot perpetrate bias or injustice... While Weapons of Math Destruction is full of hard truths and grim statistics, it is also accessible and even entertaining. O'Neil's writing is direct and easy to read - I devoured it in an afternoon -- Evelyn Lamb * Scientific American *

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Book SynopsisWhat was happening in Burnley Town Hall when the British National Party was winning and holding seats there? What lay behind the far right’s advance, and what effect did it have on local government and wider policy trends? How did mainstream parties respond? This is the inside story of these developments, written by the council worker responsible for promoting good race relations in Burnley during the turbulent years following the ‘northern town disturbances’ of 2001. The book connects the story of one Lancashire town to contemporary social divisions and political trends across the UK: - The rise of right-wing populism, widespread antipathy to immigration, and a deep distrust of established politicians - The success of Boris Johnson's Conservatives in offering nationalism as an answer to some people's sense of abandonment in deindustrialised areas - Labour’s attempts to ‘reconnect’ and win back support in northern constituencies like Burnley, which voted 67 per cent for Brexit and was one of the ‘red wall’ seats that Labour lost at the 2019 general election. On Burnley Road is both a remarkable example of granular social history and an urgent contribution to current debates on issues which affect us all. MakinWaite’s perspectives on political identities, multiculturalism, and the potential of ‘civic mediation’ will interest anyone who is looking for effective ways forward to overcome racism and inequality, and to rebuild our democratic culture.Table of ContentsForeword by Professor Claire Alexander 1. Introduction: riots in retrospect 2. What we learned in the Weavers’ Triangle 3. How political space gets created 4. When tomorrow belonged to them 5. 'How do we get back to normal?' 6. Cohesion in context 7. 'How do we handle the BNP?' 8. From Belfast to Burnley 9. Mapping future options 10. From Burnley to Brexit … and beyond Roundtable discussion: Rushanara Ali MP, Jo Broadwood, Deborah Grayson, Professor Anoop Nayak

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Book SynopsisA provocative exploration about the architecture of power, the forces that stifle us from getting things done, and how we can restore confidence in democratically elected government.

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Book SynopsisPopulism suddenly is everywhere, and everywhere misunderstood. Nadia Urbinati argues that populism should be regarded as government based on an unmediated relationship between the leader and those defined as the “good” or “right” people. Mingling history, theory, and current affairs, Urbinati illuminates populism’s tense relation to democracy.Trade ReviewMe the People arguably ranks as the best available analysis of populism in any language. Nadia Urbinati persuasively interprets populism as an autoimmune disease of democracy; as a new form of disfigured representative government gripped by leaders who pose as the embodiment of a ‘true’ people—enthusiastic but loyal subjects who have little or no taste for free media, independent courts, and other ‘intermediary’ power-restraining institutions. Urbinati’s message is timely and disturbing. -- John Keane, author of The Life and Death of DemocracyThe study of populism has become all too fashionable, but this volume stands out for its great originality. Unlike so many scholars jumping on the populism bandwagon, Nadia Urbinati has a well-developed theory of democracy, which she deftly deploys to pinpoint the dangers of populism. She also draws on her profound knowledge in the history of political thought to advance her arguments. -- Jan-Werner Müller, author of What Is Populism?With her erudition and clear-eyed assessment of the decline of parties and partisanship, Nadia Urbinati delivers a bold theory of how populist democracy works today. As populism goes from political movement to holding power, the familiar elements—the leader who embodies the people, the hostility to pluralism, the repudiation of mediating institutions—come together in a new and unaccountable form of governing. Me the People prepares us for the challenge. -- Nancy Rosenblum, author of A Lot of People Are Saying: The New Conspiracism and the Assault on DemocracyIn an increasingly crowded field, Nadia Urbinati develops a novel and sophisticated theory of the phenomenology of populism. She engages with the populist critique of what went wrong with democracy and shows how populist solutions, instead of leading to radical democracy, will lead to its disfigurement. -- Carlos de la Torre, editor of The Promise and Perils of PopulismUrbinati has produced an exceptional scholarly work on a highly relevant socio-political phenomenon. Her line of argument is necessarily complex and deep. Her research is outstandingly extensive. -- Deepak Tripathi * New York Journal of Books *Urbinati’s book is the grand historical-theoretical narrative not only of populism but of democracy and democratic theory more broadly…Her account provides an overview of democratic formations and their different conceptualizations over time, with populism being one among them…Accepting a main position of hers that populism is an expression of legitimate complaints and demands for change within representative democracy, one only wishes that the people making these demands were more savory and less corrupt than they are. -- Hans J. Rindisbacher * The European Legacy *With considerable debate around the concept of populism, and its intersections with democracy and authoritarianism, this book provides an important contribution to advance understanding of how populism is transforming contemporary democracies. -- Sarah Cameron * European Political Science *

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Book SynopsisThis translation is considered by many to be the definitive edition of de Tocqueville's classic work. Annotated, and with substantial references, placing the work and its author in the broader contexts of political philosophy, the volume also contains a comprehensive introduction.Trade Review"The best edition of the best book on America"; "What we need, here at the beginning of the century, is a fresh examination - one that begins from Tocqueville's own concerns and not from our desire to use him for our political battles. Mansfield and Winthrop... have contributed immeasurably to that task by providing hundreds of notes identifying events, allusions, and names that are no longer familiar, and by providing an accurate and readable translation of Democracy in America, one far superior to the old editions." - Daniel J. Mahoney, Weekly Standard "The Mansfield-Winthrop work will henceforth be the preferred English version of Democracy in America not only because of the superior translation and critical apparatus, but also because of its long and masterly introductory essay, itself an important contribution to the literature on Tocqueville." - Roger Kimball, The New Criterion

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Book SynopsisBecause We Say So is Noam Chomsky''s essential counter punch to American hegemonyIn 1962, the eminent statesman Dean Acheson enunciated a principle that has dominated global politics ever since: that no legal issue arises when the United States responds to a challenge to its ''power, position, and prestige''. In short, whatever the world may think, U.S. actions are legitimate because they say so. Spanning the impact of Edward Snowden''s whistleblowing and Palestinian-Israeli relations to deeper reflections on political philosophy and the importance of a commons to democracy, Because We Say So takes American imperialism head on.''Noam Chomsky is one of a small band of individuals fighting a whole industry. And that makes him not only brilliant, but heroic'' Arundhati Roy''The world''s greatest public intellectual'' ObserverTrade ReviewPublisher's description. From Edward Snowden and Palestinian-Israeli relations to political philosophy and the nature of democracy, Because We Say So offers a cross-section of perspectives on the question of America's ongoing hegemony. * Penguin *Chomsky is one of a small band of individuals fighting a whole industry. And that makes him not only brilliant, but heroic -- Arundhati RoyChomsky's work is neither theoretical, nor ideological: it is passionate and righteous * Times Literary Supplement *The world's greatest public intellectual * Observer *

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Book Synopsis''If I were a voter in Britain, I would vote for [Jeremy Corbyn]'' - Noam Chomsky, 2017Global Discontents is an essential guide to geopolitics and how to fight back, from the world''s leading public intellectualWhat kind of world are we leaving to our grandchildren? How are the discontents kindled today likely to blaze and explode tomorrow?From escalating climate change to the devastation in Syria, pandemic state surveillance to looming nuclear war, Noam Chomsky takes stock of the world today. Over the course of ten conversations with long-time collaborator David Barsamian, spanning 2013-2016, Chomsky argues in favour of radical changes to a system that cannot possibly cope with what awaits tomorrow.Interwoven with personal reflections spanning from childhood to his eighth decade of life, Global Discontents also marks out Chomsky''s own intellectual journey, mapping his progress to revolutionary ideas and global prominence.Trade ReviewIf you've never read any Chomsky before, and you want to know what all the fuss is about, this book is a good place to start. Yet more evidence of why Chomsky deserves his position as one of the world's foremost intellectuals * The Times Literary Supplement *

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Book SynopsisSunday Times Smart Thinking Book of the Year 2022 New York Times Bestseller WINNER OF THE GLOBAL POLICY INSTITUTE AWARD BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Financial Times, The Times, Esquire, Prospect''When one of the world''s leading scholars of civil war tells us that a country is on the brink of violent conflict, we should pay attention. This is an important book'' Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, authors of How Democracies DieCivil wars are the biggest danger to world peace today - this book shows us why they happen, and how to avoid them.We are now living in the world''s greatest era of civil wars. While violence has declined worldwide, major civil wars are now being fought in countries including Iraq, Syria and Libya, and smaller civil wars are being fought in India and Malaysia. Even countries we thought could never experience another civil war - such as the USA, Sweden and Ireland - are showing signs of unrest. So how can we stop them?In How Civil Wars Start, acclaimed expert Professor Barbara F. Walter, who has advised on political violence everywhere from the CIA to the U.S. Senate to the United Nations, explains the rise of civil wars and the conditions that create them - not least when countries are not quite democratic. As democracies across the world backslide and citizens become more polarised, civil wars will become even more widespread and last longer than they have in the past - but this urgent and important book shows us a path back toward peace.Trade ReviewWhen one of the world's leading scholars of civil war tells us that a country is on the brink of violent conflict, we should pay attention . . . This is an important book -- Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt, authors of How Democracies DieAn absorbing guide ... this book performs a valuable service * Sunday Times *How Civil Wars Start is a stop sign for us. What an imperative book for our time. Read and act -- Ibram X. Kendi, author of How to Be an AntiracistA bracing manual . . . . Indispensable -- Financial TimesLike those who spoke up clearly about the dangers of global warming decades ago, Walter delivers a grave message that we ignore at our peril -- David Remnick * The New Yorker *Polemical and essential -- James A. Robinson, co-author of Why Nations FailA vivid, compelling book on a globally vital issue. Timely, important and original -- Professor Richard English, author of Does Terrorism Work? A HistoryBarbara F. Walter has drawn on decades of experience and unparalleled expertise to write a powerful and indispensable book. How Civil Wars Start brilliantly illuminates the history of civil wars and the profound dangers to our union today, serving as both a warning about the stakes in our politics and a call to action for those who want to preserve multiethnic democracy and the values that America is supposed to stand for -- Ben Rhodes, author of After the Fall

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Book SynopsisWhy our democracies need urgent reform, before it''s too lateA generation after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the world is once again on the edge of chaos. Demonstrations have broken out from Belgium to Brazil led by angry citizens demanding a greater say in their political and economic future, better education, heathcare and living standards. The bottom line of this outrage is the same; people are demanding their governments do more to improve their lives faster, something which policymakers are unable to deliver under conditions of anaemic growth. Rising income inequality and a stagnant economy are threats to both the developed and the developing world, and leaders can no longer afford to ignore this gathering storm.In Edge of Chaos, Dambisa Moyo sets out the new political and economic challenges facing the world, and the specific, radical solutions needed to resolve these issues and reignite global growth. Dambisa enumerates the four headwinds of demoTrade ReviewEdge of Chaos is intensely focused in its purpose and forthright in its findings. It has narrative drive; it is not self-indulgent or too long; and it uses statistics and other factual evidence from wide-ranging sources to powerful polemical effect * Literary Review *Moyo's familiarity with the dismal science radiates through her provocative new work, Edge of Chaos, as she argues compellingly that the global failure to achieve sustained, inclusive growth underpins the rampant political turmoil * New York Times *

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Book SynopsisNEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER A work of tremendous originality and insight. Makes you see the world differently.Washington PostTrade Review"Splendid.... Mr. Zakaria flies his colors bright and bold." -- Wall Street Journal"Intensely provocative and valuable." -- BusinessWeek"In his brave and ambitious book, Fareed Zakaria has updated Tocqueville.... The range of Zakaria's knowledge is impressive.... It deserves a wide readership." -- New York Times Book Review"With a command of history and contemporary politics on a global scale, Zakaria persuasively shows that democracy by itself is not the answer to peace and prosperity.... Essential reading for anyone worried about the promotion and preservation of liberty." -- Chicago Tribune"Zakaria's provocative and wide-ranging book is eminently worth reading.... His book displays a kind of argumentation, grounded in history and political philosophy, of which there is precious little these days, particularly among opinion columnists." -- Foreign Affairs"Fareed Zakaria, one of the most brilliant young writers, has produced a fascinating and thought-provoking book on the impact of Western constitutional principles on the global order." -- Henry Kissinger"In this incisive book, Fareed Zakaria asks searching questions and offers provocative answers. The Future of Freedom is an impressive contribution to our understanding of the crises of democracy that lie darkly ahead." -- Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr.

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Book SynopsisThe Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leverages social reconstruction efforts to benefit the Bharatiya Janata Party by appealing to a wide Indian audience through technology and inclusivity. Mobilizing marginalized groups, they shape Hindu nationalism to secure BJP votes, reshaping Indian democracy through strategic appropriation and social work.

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Book SynopsisExperts on learning for democracy come together to explore why and how the gap in civic competence should be bridged. They make the case for a more effective form of political education that can enable citizens to learn to exert their influence over their government in an informed and meaningful manner.Trade Review" In a time of uncertainty, Tam’s intervention is timely and essential reading for those who believe that education is crucial in sustaining and deepening democracy. Tam presents evidence from around the world and outlines the recommended approaches that politicians, policy advisors, and educators need to familiarize themselves with." Journal of Peace EducationTable of Contents1. Introduction: Citizens, We Have a Problem - Henry Tam Part I: Why Changes Are Needed 2. Political Education in an Unequal Society - Diane Reay 3. Classroom Conflict, ‘Divisive Concepts’ and Educating for Democracy - Barrett Smith and Sarah M. Stitzlein 4. The Contested Scope of Academic Freedom - Dina Kiwan 5. Rethinking Citizenship Education for Political Literacy - Tony Breslin Part II: What Could Be Done Differently 6. Populism, Classrooms and Shared Authority - Kathleen Sellers and Kathleen Knight Abowitz 7. Different Approaches to Teaching Civic and National Identity - Edda Sant 8. Active Learning of Marginalised Young People - Kalbir Shukra 9. Universities’ Role in Teaching Practical Politics - Titus Alexander Part III: How to Make a Lasting Impact 10. The Evidence on Educational Methods for Political Engagement - David Kerr and Bryony Hoskins 11. Citizenship Education: Building for the Future - Lee Jerome and Liz Moorse 12. Reversing Democratic Decline through Political Education - Murray Print 13. Towards Civic Learning for All - Kei Kawashima-Ginsberg 14. Conclusion: Lessons for Democratic Health - Henry Tam

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