Details

The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy


The Chronic Crisis of American Democracy

The Way Is Shut

von: Benjamin Studebaker

128,39 €

Verlag: Palgrave Macmillan
Format: PDF
Veröffentl.: 17.03.2023
ISBN/EAN: 9783031282102
Sprache: englisch

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Beschreibungen

<p>This book argues that American democracy is in crisis. The economic system is slowly subjecting Americans of nearly all income levels and backgrounds to enormous amounts of stress. The United States lacks the state capacity required to alleviate this stress, and politicians increasingly find that if they promise to solve economic problems, they are likely to disappoint voters. Instead, they encourage voters to blame each other. The crisis cannot be solved, the economy cannot be set right, and democracy cannot be saved. But American democracy cannot be killed, either. Americans can’t imagine any compelling alternative political systems. And so, American democracy continues on, in a deeply unsatisfying way. Americans invent ever-more elaborate coping mechanisms in a desperate bid to go on. But it becomes increasingly clear that the way is shut. The American political system was made by those who are dead, and the dead keep it.</p>
<p>Chapter 1. The Unsolvable Problem.- Chapter 2. False Hope.- Chapter 3. Chronic Crisis.- Chapter 4. Dream Eating Democracy.- Chapter 5. No Escape.- Chapter 6. What if This Book is Wrong?<br></p><p></p>
<p>Benjamin Studebaker received his PhD in Politics and International Studies from the University of Cambridge, UK.</p>
<p>This book argues that American democracy is in crisis. The economic system is slowly subjecting Americans of nearly all income levels and backgrounds to enormous amounts of stress. The United States lacks the state capacity required to alleviate this stress, and politicians increasingly find that if they promise to solve economic problems, they are likely to disappoint voters. Instead, they encourage voters to blame each other. The crisis cannot be solved, the economy cannot be set right, and democracy cannot be saved. But American democracy cannot be killed, either. Americans can’t imagine any compelling alternative political systems. And so, American democracy continues on, in a deeply unsatisfying way. Americans invent ever-more elaborate coping mechanisms in a desperate bid to go on. But it becomes increasingly clear that the way is shut. The American political system was made by those who are dead, and the dead keep it.</p>

<p><b>Benjamin Studebaker</b> received his PhD in Politics and International Studies from the University of Cambridge, UK.</p><p></p>
Explains the crisis of American democracy in a way that deeply embeds it in the American economic system Takes seriously the obstacles to solving economic problems and criticizes attempts by political actors Develops a new theory of legitimacy crisis, building on a journal article the author recently published