5 Democracy Books from 2021 You Must Read Over the past year, I have read a lot of books and most had a connection to democracy in some way. Along the way I read a lot of classics and also caught up on a few titles from 2020 I had missed. But I always try... Continue Reading →
Angus Deaton is the Dwight D. Eisenhower Professor of Economics and International Affairs Emeritus at Princeton University, winner of the 2015 Nobel Prize in Economics, and the coauthor (with Anne Case) of Deaths of Despair and the Future of Capitalism. It's this sort of persistent loss of wages, which causes things like loss of marriage,... Continue Reading →
Deaths of Despair As we celebrate the holidays, it’s important to also remember those less fortunate than ourselves. I expect most of those reading this blog or listening to the podcast have a college degree or attend college at the moment. It’s a fortunate group, because the economy favors those with a college education. Indeed,... Continue Reading →
Introduction Elizabeth Economy's The World According to China headlines this week's list of new democracy books. Other titles also include works on Latin American politics, Renaissance History, and American History. Zeynep Pamuk, this week's guest on the podcast, also receives an obvious mention. Make sure to check out the podcast for a conversation where we discuss her pathbreaking... Continue Reading →
Zeynep Pamuk is an assistant professor of political science at the University of California, San Diego and the author of the book Politics and Expertise: How to Use Science in a Democratic Society. Science is never offering the whole truth. It may be offering us something accurate. Scientific findings may be reliable for... Continue Reading →
Science in a Democracy In the classic work Democracy and its Critics, Robert Dahl said Plato made the most compelling case against democracy. Most of us recall Plato imagined a republic where a philosopher king ruled over an orderly utopia. For most of us it’s difficult to take seriously the idea of a philosopher king... Continue Reading →
Introduction This week's latest books on democracy include works on conspiracy, Russian history, American Politics, and comparative politics. but the headliner is Danielle Allen's Democracy in the Time of Coronavirus. It's not the first political book on the pandemic, but it's the first I've taken seriously so far. I've included brief descriptions about the books, but... Continue Reading →
Caitlin Andrews-Lee is an Assistant Professor in Ryerson University’s Department of Politics and Public Administration. She is the author of the book, The Emergence and Revival of Charismatic Movements: Argentine Peronism and Venezuelan Chavismo. Charismatic leaders who are intent on governing solely using their charismatic authority and subverting other things to their personal power... Continue Reading →
Charismatic Movements Last week’s focus on democratic backsliding incorporated many different themes from polarization to personalist leaders. This week’s focus narrows its scope to discuss charismatic leaders and their movements. The emergence of a charismatic leader often brings about democratic erosion. However, many of us struggle to understand why people so easily fall under the... Continue Reading →
Introduction Every week I highlight some of the most interesting books relevant for the study of democracy. I've selected five books that stand out for scholars, activists, and students. A few of the books involve American politics such as Profit and Punishment and I, Citizen. But I have also included perspectives from other parts of the world... Continue Reading →
