The Case against Democracy
eBook - ePub

The Case against Democracy

  1. 328 pages
  2. English
  3. ePUB (mobile friendly)
  4. Available on iOS & Android
eBook - ePub

The Case against Democracy

About this book

The case for democracy is an intrinsic part of our political culture. This non-partisan book provides the other side of the story via well-researched history and current events that illuminate the theory and practice of democracy. Are the politics of the United States to blame for its current unsteady footing in the 21st century? This book aims to answer this uncomfortable but relevant question by examining the strengths and weaknesses of democracy, addressing complex topics such as the history of liberalism, the relationship between democracy and capitalism, the nature of representation, and the difference between government and politics. Each of the book's chapters focuses on a recognized shortcoming of popular government, such as inefficiency, self-interestedness, and non-participation. Each section begins by focusing on current events and tracing issues back through history—through to the American founding, and in many instances, to antiquity. In the conclusion, the author proposes a series of thought-provoking fixes.

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Yes, you can access The Case against Democracy by Steven Michels in PDF and/or ePUB format, as well as other popular books in Politics & International Relations & Democracy. We have over one million books available in our catalogue for you to explore.

Table of contents

  1. Cover
  2. Title
  3. Copyright
  4. Contents
  5. Preface
  6. Introduction: Power and the People
  7. 1 The World Needs Ditch Diggers, Too: Nonrepresentation
  8. 2 Come Together: Tyranny of the Majority
  9. 3 The Trivial Pursuit of Happiness: Materialism and Greed
  10. 4 Voting Is for Old People: Nonparticipation
  11. 5 Culture, Clubbed: Ignorance and Decadence
  12. 6 In the Flat Field: Equality over Merit
  13. 7 Red, White, and Blue in Tooth and Claw: Self-interest and Faction
  14. 8 A Bridge to Nowhere Too Far: Inefficiency and Instability
  15. 9 All She Wants to Do Is Dance: Isolationism or Exceptionalism
  16. Conclusion: Fixing the Holes
  17. Notes
  18. Selected Bibliography
  19. Index
  20. About the Author