Losing confidence

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Michael Parenti

This book tries to explain how democracy is incongruous with modern-day capitalism and is consistently violated by a capitalist social order, and yet how democracy refuses to die and continues to fight back and even make gains despite the great odds against popular forces. It offers an interpretation that students are not likely to get in schools or colleges, nor in the mass media or mainstream political literature. In addition, the book devotes attention to the FOUNDATIONS AND HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT of American politics.

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William B. Greider

In Secrets of the Temple, his acclaimed national best-seller, William Greider traced the inner workings of the Federal Reserve. Now Greider turns his investigative savvy and long Washington experience to a subject of even more vital concern: the failure of American politics and the faltering of the democratic process itself. Democracy is in deep trouble, trouble more serious than we realize. The very fabric of our system--the meaning of self-government, the values that have sustained us--is unraveling quickly, dangerously and perhaps irrevocably. Who Will Tell the People is a passionate, eye-opening challenge from a man determined to make us understand. Here is a tough-minded exploration of why we're in trouble, starting with the basic issues of who gets heard, who gets ignored, and why. Greider shows us the realities of power in Washington today, uncovering the hidden contours of relationships that link politicians with corporations and the rich and subvert the needs of ordinary citizens. He shows us how "modern methodologies of persuasion," often originating in the public relations firms, direct-mail companies and opinion-polling firms that line the streets of the capital, have created a new hierarchy of influence over government decisions. He shows us today's Capitol Hill, where a lone congressman who tries to represent the public interest can find himself aligned against an army of well-paid "authorities." The public's belief that government serves "a few big interests" is not mistaken. Greider explains exactly how this has come to pass. And where are the institutions designed to represent the people? Where are the unions? The political parties? The press? Gone, Greider writes, or transformed so radically that they no longer speak faithfully for the people. Citizen action is reduced to media stunts designed for shock value. Voters leave the traditional parties and dismiss elections as meaningless. Reporters write to please the people whose values they share--the guys at the top. How can we make change happen? How do we put meaning back into public life? Greider tells us the stories of some citizens who have managed to crack Washington's "Grand Bazaar" of influence buying and peddling as he reveals the structures of power designed to thwart them. Without naivete or cynicism, Greider shows us how the system can still be made to work for the people as he tackles gut issues like who pays taxes and who escapes them; who breathes bad air when industries manipulate environmental organizations; and who'll suffer the biggest losses as the world economy goes global and our national economy contracts. Who Will Tell the People delineates the lines of battle in the struggle to save democracy. Greider shows us the reality of how the decisions that shape our lives are made and how we can begin to take control once more.

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John Mukum Mbaku, Julius O. Ihonvbere

Contains a mixture of analytical views on the transition to accountable, and democratic governance structures in Africa. The text looks at the struggles of creating appropriate and viable governance structures and economic systems that maximize the participation of citizens in national development.

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Mark Charlton and Paul Barker

"Contemporary Political Issues is a topical collection of provocative essays and readings designed to stimulate discussion while teaching real-world and relevant issues in Canadian politics. Each of the fourteen issues is explored by two leading authorities, one taking a side in support of the issue, the other opposing it. This text provides students with the opportunity to develop critical thinking skills, and each issue's Introduction and Postscript provide necessary context and synthesis."--Pub. desc.