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Overview
The question at the center of the seventeenth edition of THE IRONY OF DEMOCRACY is “How democratic is American society?” While most American government textbooks address politics from a pluralist perspective, this text approaches the subject using an elitist perspective, thus exposing the irony between it and democratic theory and modern pluralist theory. As a result, this text helps students understand why the U.S. government works as it does.
- Every chapter in this edition has been updated to reflect the newest examples and manifestations of the core concepts of the text.
- Chapter 5, “The Media: Elite-Mass Communication,” includes a new section that discusses today's technology elites, presents coverage of the integration of social media into politics, and provides information on the relationship between the Obama Administration and freedom of the press.
- A new “Focus” box in Chapter 7, “Elites and Organized Interests,” discusses billionaire activists Styer and Koch.
- Chapter 9 on the presidency presents a new perspective on Obama's first five years in office-in both domestic and foreign policy-as well as new material on Obama and executive power.
- The core chapters on political institutions have been updated to reflect a divided Congress, the Obama Administration, and the new Supreme Court rulings. The sections on lawmaking focus more on the “Kill Bill” reality to reflect that Congress appears to be better at preventing laws than making them. The continuing diversification of the Congress is also covered.
- “In Brief” boxes provide students with clear and concise summaries of important arguments and theories throughout the text.
- Chapter summaries provide “An Elitist Interpretation” that has been enhanced and emphasized to encourage reflection on and discussion of the chapter's topics.
- “Focus” boxes in each chapter encourage students to critically approach contemporary issues in American democracy, such as “Mass Views of Elite Governance,” “Greed in the Boardroom,” and “Politainment = Politics + Entertainment.”
- Author Louis Schubert continues to revitalize and update this classic text. Using an uncommon yet realistic approach, THE IRONY OF DEMOCRACY combines an endorsement of fundamental democratic values with an understanding of the hard realities of the working democracy.
- Irony, often in political cartoons, is used to inspire students to address issues and topics present in the text.
1. The Irony of Democracy.
2. The Elite Consensus of the Founding Fathers: U.S. Political Principles.
3. Elites in America.
4. Masses in the United States.
5. The Media: Elite-Mass Communication.
6. Elections, Parties, and Democracy.
7. Elites and Organized Interests.
8. Congress: The Legislative Elite.
9. The Presidency.
10. Courts: Elites in Black Robes.
11. The Federal Bureaucracy.
12. Federalism: State and Community Elites.
13. Civil Rights: Diversifying the Elite.
14. The United States as Global Elite.
Epilogue: What Can Students Do?
Appendix: The Constitution of the United States of America.
Glossary.
2. The Elite Consensus of the Founding Fathers: U.S. Political Principles.
3. Elites in America.
4. Masses in the United States.
5. The Media: Elite-Mass Communication.
6. Elections, Parties, and Democracy.
7. Elites and Organized Interests.
8. Congress: The Legislative Elite.
9. The Presidency.
10. Courts: Elites in Black Robes.
11. The Federal Bureaucracy.
12. Federalism: State and Community Elites.
13. Civil Rights: Diversifying the Elite.
14. The United States as Global Elite.
Epilogue: What Can Students Do?
Appendix: The Constitution of the United States of America.
Glossary.