Description
Book SynopsisSelecting political leaders by popular election is an unquestioned hallmark of representative democraciesthe institutional manifestation of Lincoln's promise of a government of the people and by the people. But in 2016, Lincoln's promise seems to have given way to Hamilton's nightmarewith his worries that popular elections would produce demagogues who paid an obsequious court to the people, appealing to their passions and prejudices rather than to their reason. This book examines the commitment to the widest level of participation among the largest number of citizens in the selection of the president. It looks at two salient characteristics of our current presidential election environment that bring the wisdom of this commitment into question: the declining influence of political parties and the communication revolution in the form of the internet, social media, and cable television. Ultimately, Mezey asks whether our now fully democratized presidential selection process has in fact
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Praise for (S)electing the President
Michael L. Mezey’s (S)electing the President: The Perils of Democracy is a must-read for anyone interested in the current state of our presidential selection process. After the historic 2016 election, this outstanding analysis addresses the central dilemmas of American democracy today: As our electoral system becomes more democratized with increased demagoguery, is the quality of candidates and campaigns diminished? Is it possible to have good government and quality leaders?
James A. Thurber, American University
Michael Mezey’s new book, (S)electing the President, is an important contribution to the conversation surrounding popular elections. Drawing on the writing of ancient philosophers and our nation's founders, Mezey sends a strong message: that too much democratization of the nominating process and of the media might not be so beneficial as some think. His message is ignored at our peril.
L. Sandy Maisel, Colby College
With clarity and insight, Michael Mezey provides students and faculty with an engaging and concise narrative and analysis of the process by which we select the president of the United States. (S)electing the President is a must-read for students taking courses in introductory American government, elections, political parties, and politics and the media who want (and need) to better understand the history of the selection process, and specifically the 2016 presidential election.
Alan R. Gitelson, Loyola University Chicago
There is a conundrum at the heart of American electoral politics: The more democratized the presidential elections become, the less likely the most qualified candidate is elected. (S)electing the President casts a critical eye at the tension between democratic appeal and governing competence – pinpointing causes, consequences, and potential reform – and pierces this conundrum. Michael Mezey’s broad historical sweep and careful contemporary analysis should be a wake-up call for anyone concerned about the dynamics and outcomes of recent presidential elections.
Sarah Binder, George Washington University and The Brookings Institution
Table of ContentsPreface
Chapter 1. Candidate Quality and the Presidential Election of 2016
Chapter 2. Democracy, Representation, and Elections
Chapter 3. The Founders and Presidential Selection
Chapter 4. Democratization and Political Parties
Chapter 5. The Democratized Nomination Process
Chapter 6. The Democratized Media
Chapter 7. Charisma, Demagoguery, Populism, and Celebrity
Chapter 8. Democratization and Presidentialism
Chapter 9. The Perils of Democracy
Bibliography
