American Democracy In Peril: Eight Challenges To America's Future, 5th Edition - Softcover

Hudson W

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1933116730 ISBN 13: 9781933116730

Publisher: CQ Press, 2006

Synopsis

William Hudson's critical and provocative text urges readers not just to think about how American democracy functions, but also to examine why American democracy has become what it is today. Hudson identifies eight major challenges to the strength of the political system, directly laying out the ways in which these developments erode the very foundations of American democracy: Does judicial activism eliminate the voice of the people in American policymaking? To what extent should Americans sacrifice their civil liberties in the interest of national security? Does the "American Dream" still exist given the degree of inequality in the United States?

Ever challenging Americans' apathy or antipathy of politics, Hudson provides critical, but balanced recommendations for reform, while emphasizing that the strength of the U.S. political system rests on the ability to respond successfully to these pressing issues. Important new coverage in this fifth edition includes:

• The disparity between low- and high-income residents of the Gulf Coast that was thrown into vivid relief after Hurricane Katrina, revealing deeply embedded social, economic, and political inequality in the United States.
• Judicial appointment politics that allow the president to promote ideological values in an undemocratic manner.
• Stunted "sound bite" media coverage and candidate-centered campaigning that discourage Americans from deliberating and exercising their voices on national policy concerns.
• The Bush administration's approaches to fighting terror and upholding democracy in the world that may, in fact, jeopardize democratic values.

About this title

About the Author:

William E. Hudson is professor of political science at Providence College. He is also the author of The Libertarian Illusion (forthcoming, 2006) and Experiencing Citizenship: Concepts and Models of Service-learning in Political Science (with Richard Battistoni, 1997).

Review:

I use American Democracy in Peril as a supplement in my American politics graduate seminar. Individual chapters are gems and complement the standard set of topics contained in an introductory American politics course. The book is a rich compilation of political theory and political science research that students should know, and a well-crafted examination of specific threats to democracy. While Hudson s perspective is seldom in doubt, he does present counter-arguments, which taken together effectively stimulate reflection and discussion about the contemporary condition of American democracy. --- Clyde Brown, Miami University

"Hudson's book provides a comprehensive and eye-opening introduction for introductory students to the contradictions and dysfunctions of American democracy, from trivialized elections to corporate privilege and declining civic engagement ... and provides a challenging and helpful set of roadmaps out of our currently challenging territory." --- Justin Vaughn, Cleveland State University

About this edition

• Publisher: CQ Press
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 1933116730
• ISBN 13: 9781933116730
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 4
• Number of pages: 356