Strengthening American Democracy

Author : John R. Baker
Publisher : Broadview Press
Page : 194 pages
File Size : 51,8 Mb
Release : 2024-04-18
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781770489622

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Strengthening American Democracy by John R. Baker Pdf

Many experts have observed a world-wide trend toward “democratic deconsolidation,” reflected in America through declining trust in government at all levels and the rise of authoritarian thinking. The trend is rooted in extreme partisan polarization, which serves as fertile soil for the rise of anti-democratic movements and tendencies. This book aims to combat that disturbing trajectory, offering readers the tools to engage in and aspire toward a more responsive and accountable democracy. Its 46 brief and accessible articles outline a number of institutional, structural, process-oriented, and policy-related challenges to American democracy. In most cases, specific proposals for reform are discussed, encouraging the reader to think about how to make tangible progress toward a “more perfect Union.”

Author : Educational Policies Commission
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 24 pages
File Size : 41,6 Mb
Release : 1941
Category : Democracy
ISBN : MINN:31951T00021412Z

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How you can strengthen democracy by Educational Policies Commission Pdf

Author : Pippa Norris
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 391 pages
File Size : 53,6 Mb
Release : 2017-08-29
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781107052604

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Strengthening Electoral Integrity by Pippa Norris Pdf

Norris counters current pessimism about the effectiveness of democratic programs monitoring and assisting elections worldwide, arguing for international engagement.

Author : Yuval Levin
Publisher : Basic Books
Page : 230 pages
File Size : 50,5 Mb
Release : 2020-01-21
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781541699281

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A Time to Build by Yuval Levin Pdf

A leading conservative intellectual argues that to renew America we must recommit to our institutions Americans are living through a social crisis. Our politics is polarized and bitterly divided. Culture wars rage on campus, in the media, social media, and other arenas of our common life. And for too many Americans, alienation can descend into despair, weakening families and communities and even driving an explosion of opioid abuse. Left and right alike have responded with populist anger at our institutions, and use only metaphors of destruction to describe the path forward: cleaning house, draining swamps. But, as Yuval Levin argues, this is a misguided prescription, rooted in a defective diagnosis. The social crisis we confront is defined not by an oppressive presence but by a debilitating absence of the forces that unite us and militate against alienation. As Levin argues, now is not a time to tear down, but rather to build and rebuild by committing ourselves to the institutions around us. From the military to churches, from families to schools, these institutions provide the forms and structures we need to be free. By taking concrete steps to help them be more trustworthy, we can renew the ties that bind Americans to one another.

Author : Magda Hinojosa,Miki Caul Kittilson
Publisher : Oxford University Press
Page : 181 pages
File Size : 54,9 Mb
Release : 2020-07-17
Category : Social Science
ISBN : 9780197526965

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Seeing Women, Strengthening Democracy by Magda Hinojosa,Miki Caul Kittilson Pdf

Under what conditions do citizens most effectively connect to the democratic process? We tend to think that factors like education, income, and workforce participation are most important, but research has shown that they exert less influence than expected when it comes to women's attitudes and engagement. Scholars have begun to look more closely at how political context affects engagement. This book asks how contexts promote women's interest and connection to democracy, and it looks to Latin America for answers. The region provides a good test case as the institution of gender quotas has led to more recent and dramatic increases in women's political representation. Specifically, Magda Hinojosa and Miki Caul Kittilson argue that the election of women to political office--particularly where women's presence is highly visible to the public--strengthens the connections between women and the democratic process. For women, seeing more "people like me" in politics changes attitudes and orientations toward government and politics. The authors untangle the effects of gender quotas and the subsequent rise in women's share of elected positions, finding that the latter exerts greater impact on women's connections to the democratic process. Women citizens are more knowledgeable, interested, and efficacious when they see women holding elected office. They also express more trust in government and in political institutions and greater satisfaction with democracy when they see more women in politics. The authors look at comparative data from across Latin America, but focus on an in-depth case study of Uruguay. Here, the authors find that gender gaps in political engagement declined significantly after a doubling of women's representation in the Senate. The authors therefore argue that far-reaching gender gaps can be overcome by more equitable representation in our political institutions.

Author : Melody C. Barnes,Corey D.B. Walker,Thad M. Williamson
Publisher : Edward Elgar Publishing
Page : 296 pages
File Size : 43,8 Mb
Release : 2020-10-30
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781839108136

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Community Wealth Building and the Reconstruction of American Democracy by Melody C. Barnes,Corey D.B. Walker,Thad M. Williamson Pdf

How can we create and sustain an America that never was, but should be? How can we build a robust multiracial democracy in which everyone is valued and everyone possesses political, economic and social capital? How can democracy become a meaningful way of life, for all citizens? By critically probing these questions, the editors of Community Wealth Building and the Reconstruction of American Democracy seize the opportunity to bridge the gap between our democratic aspirations and our current reality.

Author : Mark Lazar,Institute of International Education (New York, N.Y.)
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 120 pages
File Size : 42,5 Mb
Release : 1996
Category : Political Science
ISBN : IND:30000062299858

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Fortifying the Foundations by Mark Lazar,Institute of International Education (New York, N.Y.) Pdf

The East Central Europe Information Exchange collects and disseminates information on exchange and training programs undertaken with American private and governmental funding. This study focused on programs related to democratization and civil society. An introductory section defines the parameters, background, and research methodology; lists the funding agencies involved; and summarizes some of the survey results and conclusions. Next, the section titled "Perspectives" presents four essays: (1) "Exporting Legal Reform and the Rule of Law to Central and Eastern Europe" (G.H.W. Baker), which highlights assistance efforts devoted to legal reform; (2) "U.S. Support for Nongovernmental Organizations" (Katherine Cornell Gorka), which reviews the history of U.S. assistance to nongovernmental organizations in East Central Europe; (3) "Building Democracy at the Local Level: The Case of Poland" (Joanna Regulska), which illustrates with a case study many aspects of a program of assistance to local governments; and (4) "Promoting and Protecting Human Rights: A Model for Technical Assistance to NGOs in Central and Eastern Europe" (Edwin Rekosh) presents a model for assisting the development of non-governmental organizations fostering human rights. Section 2 of the report includes a sample project survey; and various types of program data, such as organization by primary field of activity, type of project, funding, and contact person. Appendixes contain a list of Soros Foundation and Democracy Network programs and 12 references. (CH)

Author : Stephen E Gottlieb
Publisher : NYU Press
Page : 540 pages
File Size : 47,5 Mb
Release : 2016-01-08
Category : Law
ISBN : 9780814733011

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Unfit for Democracy by Stephen E Gottlieb Pdf

Asked if the country was governed by a republic or a monarchy, Benjamin Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it.” Since its founding, Americans have worked hard to nurture and protect their hard-won democracy. And yet few consider the role of constitutional law in America’s survival. In Unfit for Democracy, Stephen Gottlieb argues that constitutional law without a focus on the future of democratic government is incoherent—illogical and contradictory. Approaching the decisions of the Roberts Court from political science, historical, comparative, and legal perspectives, Gottlieb highlights the dangers the court presents by neglecting to interpret the law with an eye towards preserving democracy. A senior scholar of constitutional law, Gottlieb brings a pioneering will to his theoretical and comparative criticism of the Roberts Court. The Roberts Court decisions are not examined in a vacuum but instead viewed in light of constitutional politics in India, South Africa, emerging Eastern European nations, and others. While constitutional decisions abroad have contributed to both the breakdown and strengthening of democratic politics, decisions in the Roberts Court have aggravated the potential destabilizing factors in democratic governments. Ultimately, Unfit for Democracy calls for an interpretation of the Constitution that takes the future of democracy seriously. Gottlieb warns that the Roberts Court’s decisions have hurt ordinary Americans economically, politically, and in the criminal process. They have damaged the historic American melting pot, increased the risk of anti-democratic paramilitaries, and clouded the democratic future.

Author : Linda J. Bilmes,W. Scott Gould
Publisher : Rowman & Littlefield
Page : 378 pages
File Size : 47,8 Mb
Release : 2009-08-01
Category : Business & Economics
ISBN : 9780815701576

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The People Factor by Linda J. Bilmes,W. Scott Gould Pdf

Successful businesses have spent the past two decades retooling and rethinking how to manage their people better. Most big companies that have survived and prospered in the 21st century view employees as a vital strategic asset. In comparison, the U.S. federal government is a Stone Age relic, with its top-down bureaucracy, stovepiping of labor and responsibilities, and lack of training and investment in its own public servants. The inevitable result is a government not keeping up with the complex demands placed on it. In T he People Factor, Linda Bilmes and Scott Gould present a blueprint for reinvigorating the public sector in order to deliver results for America. Their premise is that the federal government can achieve the same gains as the best private sector and military organizations by managing its people better. Their new vision for public service is based on "The People Factor," a set of management tools drawn from best practices in successful companies, the military, and high-performing government agencies. Part One of The People Factor book shows why the U.S. personnel system needs reform, revealing the high price of inaction. Part Two lays out the specific steps that must be taken to achieve the necessary gains. Part Three focuses on how to implement the People Factor and make the authors' vision a reality. They argue that the next president needs to turn this issue into a top priority and use political capital to push reform. Highlights of the book include: • Extensive original survey research • Case studies from government and the military • Interviews with leading thinkers on strategic human capital • A number of specific proposed innovations • A detailed proposal for a nationwide effort to train and revitalize the public service

Author : Rob Reich
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Page : 258 pages
File Size : 40,9 Mb
Release : 2020-05-05
Category : Philosophy
ISBN : 9780691202273

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Just Giving by Rob Reich Pdf

The troubling ethics and politics of philanthropy Is philanthropy, by its very nature, a threat to today’s democracy? Though we may laud wealthy individuals who give away their money for society’s benefit, Just Giving shows how such generosity not only isn’t the unassailable good we think it to be but might also undermine democratic values. Big philanthropy is often an exercise of power, the conversion of private assets into public influence. And it is a form of power that is largely unaccountable and lavishly tax-advantaged. Philanthropy currently fails democracy, but Rob Reich argues that it can be redeemed. Just Giving investigates the ethical and political dimensions of philanthropy and considers how giving might better support democratic values and promote justice.

Author : Benjamin Schuetze
Publisher : Cambridge University Press
Page : 293 pages
File Size : 52,9 Mb
Release : 2019-11-07
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781108493383

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Promoting Democracy, Reinforcing Authoritarianism by Benjamin Schuetze Pdf

A detailed examination of the role of US and European 'democracy promoters' in Jordan based on a diverse range of original source material.

Author : Paul C. Light
Publisher : Brookings Institution Press
Page : 252 pages
File Size : 46,5 Mb
Release : 2010-12-01
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9780815716372

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Government's Greatest Achievements by Paul C. Light Pdf

In an era of promises to create smaller, more limited government, Americans often forget that the federal government has amassed an extraordinary record of successes over the past half century. Despite seemingly insurmountable odds, it helped rebuild Europe after World War II, conquered polio and other life-threatening diseases, faced down communism, attacked racial discrimination, reduced poverty among the elderly, and put men on the moon. In Government's Greatest Achievements, Paul C. Light explores the federal government's most successful accomplishments over the previous five decades and anticipates the most significant challenges of the next half century. While some successes have come through major legislation such as the 1965 Medicare Act, or large-scale efforts like the Apollo space program, most have been achieved through collections of smaller, often unheralded statutes. Drawing on survey responses from 230 historians and 220 political scientists at colleges and universities nationwide, Light ranks and summarizes the fifty greatest government achievements from 1944 to 1999. The achievements were ranked based on difficulty, importance, and degree of success. Through a series of twenty vignettes, he paints a vivid picture of the most intense government efforts to improve the quality of life both at home and abroad—from enhancing health care and workplace safety, to expanding home ownership, to improving education, to protecting endangered species, to strengthening the national defense. The book also examines how Americans perceive government's greatest achievements, and reveals what they consider to be its most significant failures. America is now calling on the government to resolve another complex, difficult problem: the defeat of terrorism. Light concludes by discussing this enormous task, as well as government's other greatest priorities for the next fifty years.

Author : Héctor Luis Díaz
Publisher : Unknown
Page : 0 pages
File Size : 46,6 Mb
Release : 2008
Category : Community development
ISBN : 0922993955

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Strengthening Democracy Through Community Capacity Building by Héctor Luis Díaz Pdf

The study in this book found that social intervention programs sponsored by the Adventist Development and Relief Agency International in four Latin American countries (Honduras, Nicaragua, Peru and Boliva) were successful in building community and democratic processes. The authors are social scientists.

Author : Gilda R. Daniels
Publisher : NYU Press
Page : 271 pages
File Size : 46,6 Mb
Release : 2021-10-05
Category : Political Science
ISBN : 9781479811984

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Uncounted by Gilda R. Daniels Pdf

An answer to the assault on voting rights—crucial reading in light of the 2020 presidential election The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is considered one of the most effective pieces of legislation the United States has ever passed. It enfranchised hundreds of thousands of voters, particularly in the American South, and drew attention to the problem of voter suppression. Yet in recent years there has been a continuous assault on access to the ballot box in the form of stricter voter ID requirements, meritless claims of rigged elections, and baseless accusations of voter fraud. In the past these efforts were aimed at eliminating African American voters from the rolls, and today, new laws seek to eliminate voters of color, the poor, and the elderly, groups that historically vote for the Democratic Party. Uncounted examines the phenomenon of disenfranchisement through the lens of history, race, law, and the democratic process. Gilda R. Daniels, who served as Deputy Chief in the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and has more than two decades of voting rights experience, argues that voter suppression works in cycles, constantly adapting and finding new ways to hinder access for an exponentially growing minority population. She warns that a premeditated strategy of restrictive laws and deceptive practices has taken root and is eroding the very basis of American democracy—the right to vote!

Author : OECD
Publisher : OECD Publishing
Page : 140 pages
File Size : 40,9 Mb
Release : 2014-09-15
Category : Electronic
ISBN : 9789264183636

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DAC Guidelines and Reference Series Accountability and Democratic Governance Orientations and Principles for Development by OECD Pdf

There is growing recognition of the need for new approaches to the ways in which donors support accountability, but no broad agreement on what changed practice looks like. This publication aims to provide more clarity on the emerging practice.