'Democracy is the worst form of government, except for all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.' Churchill had more reason than most to rue the power of democracy, having been thrown out of office after leading Britain to victory in 1945. Democracy, when viewed from above, has always been a fickle master; from below it is a powerful but fragile friend. Most books on democracy focus on political theory and analysis, in a futile attempt to define democracy. Of The People, By The People takes the opposite approach, telling the stories of the different democracies that have come into existence during the past two and half millennia. From Athens to Rhaetia, Jamestown to Delhi, and Putney to Pretoria, the book shows how democratic systems are always a reflection of the culture and history of their birthplaces, and come about through seizing fleeting opportunities. Democracy can only be understood through the fascinating and inspiring stories of the peoples who fought to bring it about.
-- Thomas F. Schwartz, Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, Lincoln Herald
The complete text of one of the most important speeches in American history, delivered by President Abraham Lincoln during the Civil War.
This illuminating book takes these hard realities as a starting point and offers realistic solutions to reform campaign finance.
Richard B. Bernstein, “e Sleeper Wakes: e History and Legacy of the Twenty- Seventh Amendment,” Fordham Law Review 61, no. 3 (1992): 542. 63. “Madison Amendment Surprises Lawmakers.” 64. Bill McAllister, “Across Two Centuries, ...
Uiteenzetting over de opkomst van het populisme en het gevaar daarvan voor de democratie.
After enduring the dogs and night-sticks, John Lewis stood for a seat in Congress. We leave it for each reader to judge which of today's rallying cries meet Dr. King's criteria. We submit that the directly democratic reforms of ordinary ...
In The Will of the People, Barry Friedman challenges that claim by showing that the Court has always been subject to a higher power: the American public.
Linking strong scholarship to a deep understanding of the needs and outlook of activists, Prisms of the People is the perfect book for our moment—for understanding what’s happening and propelling it forward.
In I Am the People, Partha Chatterjee reconsiders the concept of popular sovereignty in order to explain today’s dramatic outburst of movements claiming to speak for “the people.” To uncover the roots of populism, Chatterjee traces ...
In Me the People, Nadia Urbinati argues that populism should be regarded as a new form of representative government, one based on a direct relationship between the leader and those the leader defines as the “good” or “right” people.