Approaching Democracy: American Government in Times of Challenge

By Larry Berman and Bruce Allen Murphy

Book Overview

From unsubstantiated 2020 election fraud claims and the storming of the US Capitol to the rampage of COVID-19 and racial injustice, this book covers the foundations, institutions, and processes of "the great American experiment" with a clear and resonant theme: Democracy cannot be taken for granted, whether at home or internationally, and eternal vigilance (along with civic intelligence) is required to protect it. Approaching Democracy provides students with a framework to analyze the structure, process, and action of US government, institutions, and social movements. It also invites comparison with other countries. This globalizing perspective gives students an understanding of issues of governance and challenges to democracy here and elsewhere. At a moment of growing domestic terrorism, political hyper-partisanship, populism, identity politics, and governmental dysfunction, there is no better time to bring Approaching Democracy--a textbook based on Vaclav Havel's powerful metaphor of democracy as an ideal and the American experiment as the closest approach to it--to a new generation of political science undergraduate students.

NEW TO THE NINTH EDITION

Two new authors, Nadia E. Brown and Sarah Allen Gershon, who bring refreshing intellectual and diverse perspectives to the text.

Includes the tumultuous political context surrounding the Trump presidency, the 2020 elections, the 116th Congress, the Supreme Court, the COVID-19 crisis, and the fight for social and racial justice.

Figures and tables reflect the latest available data and surveys.

Two new features--Diversity and Democracy, highlighting the experiences of America's diverse social groups and the role of identity politics--and Discussion Questions at the end of each chapter, assessing critical thinking skills.

Critical contemporary events are explored throughout the book, including the attempted coup following the 2020 elections, the Trump administration's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, Black Lives Matter, protests in American cities that come to the epicenter of America's approach to democracy, the changes in the Supreme Court and the federal court system, the growth of LGBTQ+ legal rights, and the alteration in American Federalism. New and updated data on public attitudes toward police brutality, DACA, voter suppression, healthcare, and the global climate movement are also covered.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0367252694
• ISBN13: 9780367252694
• Release Date: March 2021
• Publisher: Routledge
• Length: 802 Pages
• Weight: 3.90 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Great deal!

This was a great deal. The book was in a very good condition, and I received on time for my class. I will buy again from this seller.

Good book

I have used a few different American Politics survey books in my Political Science classes. During the last 2-3 years, I have adopted this book and been happy with it. I need to first explain that I am teaching American Politics in Canada. I find that most survey books are really marketed toward young college students, so teaching the course as "comparative" course to third and fourth year students make using this book (or any others interesting). Why? Because some students complain that the books are too "high schoolish" or filled with too much American exceptionalism and narcissism. I actually think that this book isn't that bad compared to others in this respect. The tables, figures, and boxes all provide interesting additional information. The book also has great slides or overheads to use with lecture. I really like that the Appendices of the BoR and Constitution are not at the end of the book, but rather in the appropriate place---early on, so that the students can look at the documents when needed. Not having to leaf to the back of the book (surprisingly) is a positive for the students. As an instructor, the book also comes with extras, which are great. This book is perfect for an American Politics survey class in the US or Canada.

Great Book!

This is a Great Book! If anyone out there has a complaint about our Government then this book is a must! I had always had an interest in following current politics but this book really shed a new light on it. I never knew there was so much more to it. It will explain everything from the history and development of our government to current and future expectations. I encourage EVERY American Citizen to read this book! "IF YOU DONT VOTE, SHUT UP!"

Approaching Democracy

Purchased for son for a class so really don't know how the book is