Description
Book SynopsisTo govern in a democracy, political leaders have to compromise. When they do not, the result is political paralysis - dramatically demonstrated by the gridlock in Congress in recent years. This book shows why compromise is so important, what stands in the way of achieving it, and how citizens can make defensible compromises more likely.
Trade ReviewOne of Choice's Outstanding Academic Titles for 2013 "Provide[s] grist for thinking through the difficulties of compromise in [domestic policy], from tragic choices at desperate moments of history to the routine nastiness in American public life today... Until recently, who would have thought it necessary to offer Americans advice in the ways of compromise? We used to enjoy a reputation for being a practical-minded people, our politicians being regarded as an all-too-flexible species. But something has changed, and according to Gutmann and Thompson, the change has to do with the relation of campaigning and governing... Gutmann and Thompson end their book with recommendations to strengthen the spirit and practice of compromise."--Paul Starr, The New Republic "'Compromise is difficult, but governing a democracy without compromise is impossible.' So begins this excellent, much needed corrective to the contemporary political scene, which eschews compromise in politics in favor of war analogies... This excellent book should be required reading for every member of Congress, and deserves a wide readership among the voting public."--Choice "For [the] lawmakers, and for the voters who claim to value compromise, reading this book would be a good start."--Ruth Marcus, Washington Post "Scholars will appreciate the authors' lucid analysis of the dynamics of political compromise."--Library Journal "Gutmann and Thompson articulately identify the conundrum that has made compromise unlikely, if not impossible, in Washington."--Alexander Heffner, Philadelphia Inquirer
Table of ContentsPreface to the Paperback Edition ix INTRODUCTION Two Compromises 5 Characteristics of Compromise 10 Mindsets of Compromise 16 1 VALUING COMPROMISE Costs of Not Compromising 30 Vulnerabilities of Compromise 35 Limits of Compromise 41 Limits of History 54 2 RESISTING COMPROMISE The Makeup of Mindsets 64 Principled Tenacity 69 Mutual Mistrust 85 Uncompromising Multiplied 91 3 SEEKING COMPROMISE Principled Prudence 101 Mutual Respect 109 Economizing on Disagreement 117 A Moment of Compromise 133 Compromising in an Uncompromising Time 140 4 CAMPAIGNING V. GOVERNING Requisites of Campaigning 146 Two Conceptions of Democracy 152 5 GOVERNING WITH CAMPAIGNING Space for Governing 168 Term Time 177 Time Is Money 180 Primary Pressures 184 More Participation? 186 Minding the Media 189 Strengthening Civic Education 199 CONCLUSION The Uses of Mindsets 205 Doubts about Compromise 210 The Dilemma of Reform 214 The Support of Citizens 216 Notes 219 Acknowledgments 255 Index 257
