The State of Democracy in America / Edition 1

by William J. Crotty, Michael S. Dukakis, M. Margaret Conway, Diana Owen, Jack Dennis

Overview

In this wide-ranging assessment of democracy in America today, fifteen respected scholars of American politics chart the strengths and weaknesses of the nation’s democratic mechanisms and outline the challenges that lie ahead. They focus not on specific policies or elections but on the quality of American political life, the representativeness of its governing institutions, and the issues of racial and economic equity.

The contributors cover a broad spectrum of the American political process. Topics include the extent and nature of political participation, the relevance of political parties, political fundraising and its policy consequences, demographic change and its likely effect on the national political agenda, and the future of racial politics. Others explore how representative Congress really is today, how the market economy affects public policy, the use of impeachment as a political weapon, and the degree of corporate influence on the political process. A final chapter explores the circumstances likely to shape policy agendas over the course of the twenty-first century.

Taken together, these essays provide a clear picture of political evolution during the past fifty years and discuss possible problems and issues of the future. Written for advanced undergraduate and graduate students, the book is a thoughtful, well-documented, critical analysis of contemporary American democracy.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780878408610
Publisher:	Georgetown University Press
Publication date:	08/06/2001
Series:	Essential Texts in American Government series
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	250
Product dimensions:	7.00(w) x 10.00(h) x 0.65(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

William J. Crotty is Thomas P. O’Neill Chair in Public Life, director of the O’Neill Center for the Study of Democracy, and professor of political science at Northeastern University. His books include The Politics of Presidential Selection (HarperCollins, 1996) and the four-volume Political Science: Looking to the Future (Northwestern University Press, 1991).

Table of Contents

Preface

1. Politics and Policy for a New Century Michael S. Dukakis, Northeastern University

2. Introduction: Perspectives on an Evolving Democratic Experiment in a New Century (and Millennium) William Crotty, Northeastern University

3. Political Mobilization in America M. Margaret Conway, University of Florida

4. Public Support for the Party System in the United StatesDiana Owen, Georgetown University; Jack Dennis, University of Wisconsin-Madison; and Casey A. Klofstad, Harvard University

5. Party Relevance over TimeWilliam Crotty, Northeastern University

6. Does Congress Represent the American PeopleDonald R. Matthews, University of Washington

7. The Enduring Dilemma of Political Tolerancee in American Political History George E. Marcus, Williams College

8. The Future of Racial Politics: Beyond: Beyond Fatalism Edward G. Carmines, Indiana University, and Paul M. Sniderman, Stanford University

9. The Limits of the Market: New Examinations of an Old ProblemBetty Glad, University of South Carolina

10. Crossroads Blues: Business Representation, Public Policy, and Economic Growth for the Twenty-First CenturyCathie Jo Martin, Boston University

11. Blowing Smoke: Impeachment, the Clinton Presidency, and the Political Economy Thomas Ferguson, University of Massachusetts at Boston

12. The Battle between Issue Expanders and Containers: The Elderly behind the Wheel in the Twenty-First CenturyRoger W. Cobb, Brown University, and Joesph F. Coughlin, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Contributors

Index

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"This book brilliantly dissects the achievements and limitations of our American democracy today. A must-read for those who wish to rethink our democratic foundations."—James MacGregor Burns, Williams College

James MacGregor Burns

This book brilliantly dissects the achievements and limitations of our American democracy today. A must-read for those who wish to rethink our democratic foundations.

Editorial Reviews

A thoughtful, challenging, and critical analysis of contemporary American democracy.

Democratization

This book brilliantly dissects the achievements and limitations of our American democracy today. A must-read for those who wish to rethink our democratic foundations.

James MacGregor Burns

"A thoughtful, challenging, and critical analysis of contemporary American democracy."—Democratization

From the Publisher

Fifteen political scientists, all of whom teach at American universities, have contributed critical essays that will arouse discussion in the classroom. The writing is substantial, delving into the history of the topic and its occurrence in recent political events. The topics include corporate influence, how the market economy affects public policy, the use of impeachment as a political weapon, political fundraising and its policy consequences, the relevance of political parties, and how representative Congress actually is. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews