20 Best Books About Democracy (2023 Update)

Winner of the lillian smith book award – winner of the los angeles times book prize – finalist for the national book award – the nation's "most valuable book"“[a] vibrant intellectual history of the radical right.”—the atlantic “this sixty-year campaign to make libertarianism mainstream and eventually take the government itself is at the heart of democracy in chains. . . . if you're worried about what all this means for america's future, you should be.”—npr an explosive exposé of the right’s relentless campaign to eliminate unions, suppress voting, privatize public education, stop action on climate change, and alter the constitution. – behind today’s headlines of billionaires taking over our government is a secretive political establishment with long, deep, and troubling roots. the capitalist radical right has been working not simply to change who rules, but to fundamentally alter the rules of democratic governance. but billionaires did not launch this movement; a white intellectual in the embattled jim crow south did. democracy in chains names its true architect—the nobel prize-winning political economist james mc – gill buchanan—and dissects the operation he and his colleagues designed over six decades to alter every branch of government to disempower the majority. in a brilliant and engrossing narrative, nancy maclean shows how buchanan forged his ideas about government in a last gasp attempt to preserve the white elite’s power in the wake of brown v. board of education. in response to the widening of american democracy, he developed a brilliant, if diabolical, plan to undermine the ability of the majority to use its numbers to level the playing field between the rich and powerful and the rest of us. corporate donors and their right-wing foundations were only too eager to support buchanan’s work in teaching others how to divide america into “makers” and “takers.” and when a multibillionaire on a messianic mission to rewrite the social contract of the modern world, charles koch, discovered buchanan, he created a vast, relentless, and multi-armed machine to carry out buchanan’s strategy. now, with mike pence as vice president, the cause has a longtime loyalist in the white house, not to mention a phalanx of republicans in the house, the senate, a majority of state governments, and the courts, all carrying out the plan. that plan includes harsher laws to undermine unions, privatizing everything from schools to health care and social security, and keeping as many of us as possible from voting. based on ten years of unique research, democracy in chains tells a chilling story of right-wing academics and big money run amok. this revelatory work of scholarship is also a call to arms to protect the achievements of twentieth-century american self-government.

How will democracy end? and what will replace it? a preeminent political scientist examines the past, present, and future of an endangered political philosophysince the end of world war ii, democracy's sweep across the globe seemed inexorable. yet today, it seems radically imperiled, even in some of the world's most stable democracies. how bad could things get? our societies are too affluent, too elderly, and too networked to fall apart as they did in the past.

In this magisterial work, sean wilentz traces a historical arc from the earliest days of the republic to the opening shots of the civil war. one of our finest writers of history, wilentz brings to life the era after the american revolution, when the idea of democracy remained contentious, and jeffersonians and federalists clashed over the role of ordinary citizens in government of, by, and for the people. the triumph of andrew jackson soon defined this role on the national level, while city democrats, anti-masons, fugitive slaves, and a host of others hewed their own local definitions. in these definitions wilentz recovers the beginnings of a discontenttwo starkly opposed democracies, one in the north and another in the southand the wary balance that lasted until the election of abraham lincoln sparked its bloody resolution. 75 illustrations.

Hope for american democracy in an era of deep divisions in healing the heart of democracy, parker j. palmer quickens our instinct to seek the common good and gives us the tools to do it. the online journal democracy & education called it "one of the most important books of the early 21st century." and publishers weekly, in a starred review, said "this beautifully written book deserves a wide audience that will benefit from discussing it."

Alexis de tocqueville (1805-59) came to america in 1831 to see what a great republic was like. what struck him most was the country's equality of conditions, its democracy. the book he wrote on his return to france, democracy in america, is both the best ever written on democracy and the best ever written on america. it remains the most often quoted book about the united states, not only because it has something to interest and please everyone, but also because it has something to teach everyone. when it was published in 2000, harvey mansfield and delba winthrop's new translation of democracy in america—only the third since the original two-volume work was published in 1835 and 1840—was lauded in all quarters as the finest and most definitive edition of tocqueville's classic thus far. mansfield and winthrop have restored the nuances of tocqueville's language, with the expressed goal "to convey tocqueville's thought as he held it rather than to restate it in comparable terms of today." the result is a translation with minimal interpretation, but with impeccable annotations of unfamiliar references and a masterful introduction placing the work and its author in the broader contexts of political philosophy and statesmanship.

A 2021 yalsa excellence in nonfiction finalist america is the greatest democracy in the world . . . isn't it? author elizabeth rusch examines some of the more problematic aspects of our government but, more importantly, offers ways for young people to fix them. the power to change lies with the citizens of this great country–especially teens! rather than pointing fingers at people and political parties, you call this democracy? each chapter breaks down a different problem plaguing american democracy, exploring how it's undemocratic, offering possible solutions (with examples of real-life teens who have already started working toward them), and suggesting ways to effect change–starting now!

In this prize-winning book, one of the most prominent political theorists of our time makes a major statement about what democracy is and why it is important. robert dahl examines the most basic assumptions of democratic theory, tests them against the questions raised by its critics, and recasts the theory of democracy into a new and coherent whole. he concludes by discussing the directions in which democracy must move if advanced democratic states are to exist in the future. "when robert dahl speaks about democracy, everyone should listen. with democracy and its critics dahl has produced a work destined to become another classic."–lucian w. a work of extraordinary intelligence and, what is even rarer, a work of extraordinary wisdom."–robert n. bellah, new york times book reviewrobert a. dahl, sterling professor of political science emeritus at yale universtiy, is also the author of who governs?, after the revolution?, polyarchy, and dilemmas of pluralist democracy, all available from yale university press.

A modern classic that uses historical analysis to shed light on the present, the future of freedom is, as the chicago tribune put it, "essential reading for anyone worried about the promotion and preservation of liberty." hailed by the new york times as "brave and ambitious…updated tocqueville," it enjoyed extended stays on the new york times, wall street journal, and washington post bestseller lists and has been translated into eighteen languages. prescient in laying out the distinction between democracy and liberty, the book now contains a new afterword on the united states's occupation of iraq." intensely provocative and valuable," according to businessweek, with an easy command of history, philosophy, and current affairs, the future of freedom calls for a restoration of the balance between liberty and democracy and shows how politics and government can be made effective and relevant for our time. this new edition includes a new afterword on america in iraq.

A thought-provoking history of communications that challenges ideas about freedom of speech and democracy. at the heart of democracy lies a contradiction that cannot be resolved, one that has affected free societies since their advent: though freedom of speech and media has always been a necessary condition of democracy, that very freedom is also its greatest threat. when new forms of communications arrive, they often bolster the practices of democratic politics. but the more accessible the media of a society, the more susceptible that society is to demagoguery, distraction, and spectacle. tracing the history of media disruption and the various responses to it over time, zac gershberg and sean illing reveal how these changes have challenged democracy—often with unsettling effects. the paradox of democracy captures the deep connection between communication and political culture, from the ancient art of rhetoric and the revolutionary role of newspapers to liberal broadcast media and the toxic misinformation of the digital public sphere. with clear-eyed analysis, gershberg and illing show that our contemporary debates over media, populism, and cancel culture are not too different from democratic cultural experiences of the past.

Jan-werner müller, author of the widely translated and acclaimed what is populism?, takes us back to basics in democracy rules. in this short, elegant volume, he explains how democracy is founded not just on liberty and equality, but also on uncertainty. the latter will sound unattractive at a time when the pandemic has created unbearable uncertainty for so many. but it is crucial for ensuring democracy’s dynamic and creative character, which remains one of its signal advantages over authoritarian alternatives that seek to render politics (and individual citizens) completely predictable. contrary to conventional wisdom, these are not spent forces in a supposed age of post-party populist leadership and post-truth. müller suggests concretely how democracy’s critical infrastructure of intermediary institutions could be renovated, re-empowering citizens while also preserving a place for professionals such as journalists and judges. these institutions are also indispensable for negotiating a democratic social contract that reverses the secession of plutocrats and the poorest from a common political world.

It is necessary for a prince wishing to hold his own to know how to do wrong, and to make use of it or not according to necessity. -niccolò machiavelli, the princegreed. lies. corruption. these are the foundational elements of the american mafia story. here, the pursuit of power overshadows even the desire for a dollar, and self-interest outweighs the greater good. it's a world that's foreign to the average american-or is it? the values of our democracy and those of mafia culture are separated by a thin line that's quickly disintegrating. no one sees this more clearly than former mob boss michael franzese. born into one of new york's most feared crime families, michael spent eight years in prison before he walked away from the mafia for good. now, he's sharing the undeniable parallels between mobster and politician. in mafia democracy, michael exposes our government for what it's become, revealing the psychology behind the gangster lifestyle and how these ideologies have infiltrated the landscape of american politics. with in-depth investigation and astounding examples, this book is your chance to see politicians through a new lens, hold them accountable, and reclaim the democratic ideals that once united our great nation.

But can our current political system, one that seems responsive only to the wealthiest among us and leaves most americans feeling disengaged, voiceless, and disenfranchised, really be called democratic? david graeber, one of the most influential scholars and activists of his generation, takes readers on a journey through the idea of democracy, provocatively reorienting our understanding of pivotal historical moments, and extracts their lessons for today.–

Offers tongue-in-cheek insight into american democracy with coverage of such topics as the republican qualities of ancient rome, the antics of our nation's founders, and the ludicrous nature of today's media.

An expansive and ambitious intellectual history of democratic socialism from one of the world's leading intellectual historians and social ethicists the fallout from twenty years of neoliberal economic globalism has sparked a surge of interest in the old idea of democratic socialism–a democracy in which the people control the economy and government, no group dominates any other, and every citizen is free, equal, and included. with a focus on the intertwined legacies of christian socialism and social democratic politics in britain and germany, this book traces the story of democratic socialism from its birth in the nineteenth century through the mid-1960s. examining the tenets on which the movement was founded and how it adapted to different cultural, religious, and economic contexts from its beginnings through the social and political traumas of the twentieth century, gary dorrien reminds us that christian socialism paved the way for all liberation theologies that make the struggles of oppressed peoples the subject of redemption. he argues for a decentralized economic democracy and anti-imperial internationalism.

Read the book that donald trump called “a great book for your reading enjoyment!” the most exhaustively researched and coherently argued democrat party apologia to date, reasons to vote for democrats: a comprehensive guide is a political treatise sure to stand the test of time. a must-have addition to any political observer's coffee table.

Read the book that donald trump called “a great book for your reading enjoyment!” the most exhaustively researched and coherently argued democrat party apologia to date, reasons to vote for democrats: a comprehensive guide is a political treatise sure to stand the test of time. a must-have addition to any political observer's coffee table.

For more than thirty years, kevin phillips' insight into american politics and economics has helped to make history as well as record it. his bestselling books, including the emerging republican majority (1969) and the politics of rich and poor (1990), have influenced presidential campaigns and changed the way america sees itself. widely acknowledging phillips as one of the nation's most perceptive thinkers, reviewers have called him a latter-day nostradamus and our "modern thomas paine." now, in the first major book of its kind since the 1930s, he turns his attention to the united states' history of great wealth and power, a sweeping cavalcade from the american revolution to what he calls "the second gilded age" at the turn of the twenty-first century.the second gilded age has been staggering enough in its concentration of wealth to dwarf the original gilded age a hundred years earlier. however, the tech crash and then the horrible events of september 11, 2001, pointed out that great riches are as vulnerable as they have ever been. in wealth and democracy, kevin phillips charts the ongoing american saga of great wealth–how it has been accumulated, its shifting sources, and its ups and downs over more than two centuries. he explores how the rich and politically powerful have frequently worked together to create or perpetuate privilege, often at the expense of the national interest and usually at the expense of the middle and lower classes.with intriguing chapters on history and bold analysis of present-day america, phillips illuminates the dangerous politics that go with excessive concentration of wealth. profiling wealthy americans–from astor to carnegie and rockefeller to contemporary wealth holders–phillips provides fascinating details about the peculiarly american ways of becoming and staying a multimillionaire. in a time of national crisis, phillips worries that the growing parallels suggest the tide may already be turning for us all.

For more than thirty years, kevin phillips' insight into american politics and economics has helped to make history as well as record it. his bestselling books, including the emerging republican majority (1969) and the politics of rich and poor (1990), have influenced presidential campaigns and changed the way america sees itself. widely acknowledging phillips as one of the nation's most perceptive thinkers, reviewers have called him a latter-day nostradamus and our "modern thomas paine." now, in the first major book of its kind since the 1930s, he turns his attention to the united states' history of great wealth and power, a sweeping cavalcade from the american revolution to what he calls "the second gilded age" at the turn of the twenty-first century.the second gilded age has been staggering enough in its concentration of wealth to dwarf the original gilded age a hundred years earlier. however, the tech crash and then the horrible events of september 11, 2001, pointed out that great riches are as vulnerable as they have ever been. in wealth and democracy, kevin phillips charts the ongoing american saga of great wealth–how it has been accumulated, its shifting sources, and its ups and downs over more than two centuries. he explores how the rich and politically powerful have frequently worked together to create or perpetuate privilege, often at the expense of the national interest and usually at the expense of the middle and lower classes.with intriguing chapters on history and bold analysis of present-day america, phillips illuminates the dangerous politics that go with excessive concentration of wealth. profiling wealthy americans–from astor to carnegie and rockefeller to contemporary wealth holders–phillips provides fascinating details about the peculiarly american ways of becoming and staying a multimillionaire. in a time of national crisis, phillips worries that the growing parallels suggest the tide may already be turning for us all.

A contemporary study of the early american nation and its evolving democracy, from a french aristocrat and sociologistin 1831 alexis de tocqueville, a young french aristocrat and ambitious civil servant, set out from post-revolutionary france on a journey across america that would take him 9 months and cover 7,000 miles. the result was democracy in america, a subtle and prescient analysis of the life and institutions of 19th-century america. tocqueville looked to the flourishing deomcratic system in america as a possible model for post-revolutionary france, believing that the egalitarian ideals it enshrined reflected the spirit of the age and even divine will. his study of the strengths and weaknesses of an evolving democratic society has been quoted by every american president since eisenhower, and remains a key point of reference for any discussion of the american nation or the democratic system.this new edition is the only one that contains all tocqueville's writings on america, including the rarely-translated two weeks in the wilderness, an account of tocqueville's travels in michigan among the iroquois, and excursion to lake oneida. for more than seventy years, penguin has been the leading publisher of classic literature in the english-speaking world. with more than 1,700 titles, penguin classics represents a global bookshelf of the best works throughout history and across genres and disciplines. readers trust the series to provide authoritative texts enhanced by introductions and notes by distinguished scholars and contemporary authors, as well as up-to-date translations by award-winning translators.

Discover the fascinating evolution of democracy from then until now – the influence of ancient figures, and the origins of today's political systems. now more than ever, democracy has become a compelling conversation topic. but have you ever wondered what has shaped the political systems that govern many societies today? are you curious about the history of democracy? or do you wonder how some of the democratic policies developed through the ages? or maybe you wonder how democracies die? many people might believe the start of democracy to be the establishment of the united states of america as it threw off the shackles of british rule. – some may even be familiar with the fact that those democratic ideals can be traced back to the teachings and practices of the ancient greeks and romans. – but is that all there is to it? studying history will help give you a better understanding of the origins of democracy, how it shaped our current laws and policies, and how democracy works now. – which begs the question: what does history tell us about democracy? and what does it tell us about democracy in the us now? where did democracy start? how did it develop? what inspired and ignited an entire democratic system to govern societies? – even looking at the democracy around the world today, it's clear that there are degrees to which countries choose to adhere or stray from democratic ideals. – understanding where these ideals developed from and the development of democracy over time is essential to determining what endangers these ideals in the present. – drawing from recent research and critical arguments on the development of democracy, within these pages, you'll discover: the early years of democracy and the evolution of democracy through the ages – the democratic ideas in ancient rome that helped design some of the foundations of modern governments – the emergency of a modern parliamentary system that resulted from reforms throughout the medieval ages – the evidence that shows widely held beliefs about democracy in the medieval era may be mistaken – the roots of america's democracy and democracy in america now – case studies – a comparison of democracies around the world today to explore why some countries are fully democratic while others are heavily authoritarian – the rising threats to democracy jeopardizing the systems that have been in place in some form for centuries – and much more. – democracy has reshaped society from oppressive and authoritarian systems to a more egalitarian one, but the work is still not done. – even today, democracy is still a work in progress, and it will continue to transform as civilizations grow and develop. if you're ready to study the history of democracy today, then scroll up and grab your copy of democracy from then to now.