Introduction As the world watches in horror at unprovoked Russia's Invasion of Ukraine, many readers will look for books to offer background or explanations for the conflict. Fortunately, many new books offer insights for those with questions about the conflict. Christopher Smith offers an account of the origins of the conflict between Russia and Ukraine... Continue Reading →
Become a Patron! Bob Shrum Bob Shrum is the Director of the USC Center for the Political Future and the Carmen H. and Louis Warschaw Chair in Practical Politics. He is also the cohost of the podcast The Bully Pulpit, a member of The Democracy Group network of podcasts. The USC Center for the Political Future brings together people from... Continue Reading →
Democracy Books This Week Like everyone else my mind remains fixated on the War in Ukraine. Unfortunately, it will take months, maybe years, before anyone writes an account of the war. However, a few books published this week touch on subjects or themes relevant to the war. Andrew Imbrie and Ben Buchanan offer a prophecy... Continue Reading →
Democracy Books This Week Michael Kazin's What it Took to Win headlines this week's list of democracy books. However, other titles feature topics on Latin America, American federalism, psychology, and populist communication. It's a fascinating collection of books with something to interest many different readers. What I like best about many of the titles is they involve... Continue Reading →
Democracy Books this Week Few books will receive as much anticipation as Moisés Naím's The Revenge of Power. It's a book I've had my eye on for months. Naím, of course, is among the most influential voices on the subject of democracy and authoritarianism. So, his book will draw wide interest from many readers from a... Continue Reading →
Democracy Books this Week Watergate continues to shape American political identity to this day. From the adaptation of every scandal into a -gate to the development of democratic norms to avoid the abuse of power. At the same time, the public seems to have forgotten the lessons of Watergate. Indeed, few Americans remember or fully... Continue Reading →
Democracy Books This Week Free speech is the link between liberalism and democracy. It is impossible to have a liberal society without free speech. It is inconceivable to have a democratic society without free speech. But for anyone living in a democracy it is also a part of the political culture and embedded into our... Continue Reading →
Democracy Books This Week Ro Khanna's Dignity in a Digital Age headlines this week's list of democracy books. But don't overlook the other titles included alongside it. Perhaps most interesting is John Keane's short history of democracy. Like always the topics touch on a variety of approaches to examine democracy. Lawrence Jacobs offers a reassessment of... Continue Reading →
Democracy Books this Week Maybe I'm late to the party to celebrate Amartya Sen's memoir, Home in the World. It was released in the UK back in August, but took until this week to be published in the US. It's coming out on audiobook as well next month, so it's past time for us to celebrate... Continue Reading →
Democracy Books this Week What does it mean to be free? This question is at the heart of Lea Ypi's memoir, but it's also found in the core of most work in political theory. The books below approach democracy from a variety of angles. Most of the titles this week approach cultural or social aspects... Continue Reading →
