Democracy in America?
What Has Gone Wrong and What We Can Do About It
- Contents
- Review Quotes
Table of Contents

Contents
List of Illustrations
Part One: Introduction
One More Democracy
Two Unequal Wealth Distorts Politics
Part Two: What has Gone Wrong
Three Thwarting the Will of the People
Four The Political Clout of Wealthy Americans
Five Corporations and Interest Groups
Six Polarized Parties and Gridlock
Part Three: What Can Be Done
Seven Equal Voice for All Citizens
Eight Overcoming Gridlock and Democratizing Institutions
Part Four: How To Do It
Nine A Social Movement for Democracy
Ten Signs of Progress
Part One: Introduction
One More Democracy
Two Unequal Wealth Distorts Politics
Part Two: What has Gone Wrong
Three Thwarting the Will of the People
Four The Political Clout of Wealthy Americans
Five Corporations and Interest Groups
Six Polarized Parties and Gridlock
Part Three: What Can Be Done
Seven Equal Voice for All Citizens
Eight Overcoming Gridlock and Democratizing Institutions
Part Four: How To Do It
Nine A Social Movement for Democracy
Ten Signs of Progress
Afterword: A Critical Juncture
Acknowledgments
Appendix: Interest Groups Studied
Notes
References
Index
Acknowledgments
Appendix: Interest Groups Studied
Notes
References
Index
Review Quotes
Kirkus Reviews
"Provocative suggestions for how to revive democratic practices through citizen action and institutional reform alike."
Christian Century
"If you are looking for ways to join the reform effort, reading this important book is a useful start."
Jeffrey D. Sachs, Columbia University
"What an accomplishment! The book is crystal clear, cogent, and builds beautifully on Page and Gilens's vital contributions over many years on influence and power in the US political system. A wonderful and important book, backed by very important and cutting-edge research. I will recommend it widely."
New York Journal of Books
"Brilliant, indispensable, and highly accessible."
Lawrence Lessig, Harvard University
"There is an urgency to the project of repairing America’s democracy. This book is the most important contribution so far. Powerful, comprehensive and original, it gives every American hope and a map--which is all this democracy has ever needed."
Robert B. Reich, Chancellors Professor of Public Policy, University of California, Berkeley
"In this important and riveting book, Benjamin Page and Martin Gilens reveal why America has failed to help those who have fallen behind and allowed inequality to explode. The solution isn't to redistribute wealth from the have-mores to the have-lesses. It’s to redistribute political power to everyone. A must-read for anyone who cares about the future of America."
Anna Galland, executive director, MoveOn.org
"Our democracy is in crisis. This clear-eyed, thoughtful, and accessible book offers a roadmap for challenging the political power of the wealthiest Americans and corporate interests. Only a broad and persistent social movement, it argues, can make our government responsive to average Americans. A welcome and important work."
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Political Science: American Government and Politics | Political Behavior and Public Opinion
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