With the economic crisis, intense partisan gridlock, and social movements like the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street, American Democracy in Peril encapsulates the tumultuous state of American politics more than ever. Hudson’s provocative book offers a structured, yet critical look at the functioning of the American political system.

This new edition incorporates the far-ranging impact of the Obama presidency—and the polarization that has accompanied it—along with these key updates:

• new discussion of the barriers of the separation of powers system, including the tortured politics of health care reform, the threats of government shutdown over deficit reform, and the use of institutional vetoes to prevent economic stimulus measures.
• new developments from the last election cycles, including changes in party politics, campaign funding, campaign media technologies and social media, and efforts at voter suppression.
• fresh examination of the financial deregulation that led to the crisis, the massive financial bailout, and rising economic inequality.
• new insight regarding Obama’s continuity with Bush-era national security practices from the use of secrecy to centralized executive control of policy.

Meet Bill Hudson and find out more about American Democracy in Peril - Click HERE for video!

This new edition incorporates the far-ranging impact of the Obama presidency—and the polarization that has accompanied it—along with these key updates:

• new discussion of the barriers of the separation of powers system, including the tortured politics of health care reform, the threats of government shutdown over deficit reform, and the use of institutional vetoes to prevent economic stimulus measures.
• new developments from the last election cycles, including changes in party politics, campaign funding, campaign media technologies and social media, and efforts at voter suppression.
• fresh examination of the financial deregulation that led to the crisis, the massive financial bailout, and rising economic inequality.
• new insight regarding Obama’s continuity with Bush-era national security practices from the use of secrecy to centralized executive control of policy.

CQ Press is pleased to comply with the Higher Education Opportunity Act. Please email heoacompliance@cqpress.com for additional information that may be available. Be sure to include your name, contact information, academic affiliation, and the title, author, and edition of the book in question.

Contact us at collegesales@cqpress.com if we may assist you in your book selection or if you have feedback to share. Thank you for your consideration of CQ Press books.

Introduction: Models of Democracy
Precursors to Modern Democratic Theory
Protective Democracy
Developmental Democracy
Pluralist Democracy
Participatory Democracy
The Models Compared
Suggestions for Further Reading

1. The First Challenge: Separation of Powers
The Founders’ Work
The Jeffersonian Model
The Separation of Powers and Democratic Values
The Parliamentary Alternative
Meeting the Challenge: Bridging the Separation of Powers
Thought Questions
Suggestions for Further Reading
Selected Web Sites

2. The Second Challenge: The Imperial Judiciary
The Least Democratic Branch
A Brief History of Judicial Review
Two Cases of Judicial Usurpation
Can Judicial Review Be Made Consistent with Democracy?
The Judicialization of American Politics as a Challenge to Democracy
Meeting the Challenge: Revitalize American Democracy
Thought Questions
Suggestions for Further Reading
Selected Web Sites

3. The Third Challenge: Radical Individualism
Individualism in the American Tradition
American “Habits of the Heart”
The Flaws of Libertarianism
Our Pathological Politics of Rights and Interests
The Failed Opportunity to Build Community after 9/11
Meeting the Challenge: Balancing Rights with Responsibilities
Thought Questions
Suggestions for Further Reading
Selected Web Sites

4. The Fourth Challenge: Citizen Participation
Citizen Participation and Democratic Theory
Citizen Political Participation
Signs of Civic Disengagement
The New Citizen Activism
Participation as a Challenge to Democracy
Meeting the Challenge: More Participation, Not Less
Thought Questions
Suggestions for Further Reading
Selected Web Sites

5. The Fifth Challenge: Elections without the People’s Voice
Equal Representation
Deliberation
Control
Meeting the Challenge: Reform Electoral Institutions, Promote Democratic Deliberation
Thought Questions
Suggestions for Further Reading
Selected Web Sites

6. The Sixth Challenge: The “Privileged Position” of Business
American Politics as Pluralist Heaven
Business: The Privileged Group
Why Business Privilege Is a Threat to Democracy
Objections to the Privileged-Position-of-Business Thesis
Meeting the Challenge: Democratic Action to Reduce Business Privilege
Thought Questions
Suggestions for Further Reading
Selected Web Sites

7. The Seventh Challenge: Economic Inequality
Equality and Democratic Theory
The End of the American Dream?
Economic Inequality’s Challenge to Democracy
Meeting the Challenge: Policies to Promote Equality
Thought Questions
Suggestions for Further Reading
Selected Web Sites

8. The Eighth Challenge: The National Security State
The Burgeoning of the National Security State
Secrecy
Centralization
Repression
Distortion
Meeting the Challenge: Reform to Achieve True Security
Thought Questions
Suggestions for Further Reading
Selected Web Sites

Notes
Index

"Democracy in Peril is among the best political science texts ever published. I assign it to any class where it is appropriate, and no other book I have assigned has affected my students as much as this one by William Hudson.”

- Elizabeth Hill, Rutgers University-Newark

William E. Hudson is professor of political science at Providence College. He is the author of The Libertarian Illusion, American Democracy in Peril, 5th Edition, and Experiencing Citizenship: Concepts and Models for Service-Learning in Political Science (with Richard Battistoni). Hudson has published numerous articles on public policy issues in journals such as Political Science Quarterly, Polity, Western Political Quarterly, Economic Development Quarterly, and Policy Studies Journal.