Republic at Risk: An Introduction to American Politics
Cambridge University Press
Edition: 2, 6/3/2021
EAN 9781108738040, ISBN10: 1108738044
Paperback, 280 pages, 25.4 x 17.8 x 1.6 cm
Language: English
Originally published in English
When people have the freedom to further their own personal interests in politics, the results may be disastrous. Chaos? Tyranny? Can a political system be set up to avoid these pitfalls, while still granting citizens and politicians the freedom to pursue their interests? Republic at Risk is a concise and engaging introduction to American politics. The guiding theme is the problem of self-interest in politics, which James Madison took as his starting point in his defense of representative government in Federalist 10 and 51. Madison believed that unchecked self-interest in politics was a risk to a well-ordered and free society. But he also held that political institutions could be designed to harness self-interest for the greater good. Putting Madison's theory to the test, the authors examine modern challenges to the integrity and effectiveness of US policy-making institutions, inviting readers to determine how best to respond to these risks.
Preface to the second edition
Introduction
1. Some enduring questions and relevant concepts
2. Big answers, bigger questions
Madison's theory of the republic
3. Citizen participation in politics
an interest in self-interest?
4. Who's in charge here? Voting choice in elections
5. Interest groups and pluralist theory
self-interest in the republic reconsidered
6. Political parties
an alternative to the republic?
7. A pivotal politics model of the policy process
the separation of powers re-imagined
8. Congress
representation and power
9. Presidential leadership
beyond self-interest?
10. The Supreme Court
another way out of the problem of self-interest?
11. Conclusion
self-interest and representative government
Appendix Federalist 10 and 51 by James Madison
References
Index.