Presidents, Populism, and the Crisis of Democracy
- Contents
- Review Quotes
Table of Contents
Contents
Introduction
1 The Drivers of Populist Politics
2 The Rise and Reign of an American Populist
3 The Persistence of Ineffective Government
4 A Presidency for Modern Times
Acknowledgments
Notes
Index
1 The Drivers of Populist Politics
2 The Rise and Reign of an American Populist
3 The Persistence of Ineffective Government
4 A Presidency for Modern Times
Acknowledgments
Notes
Index
Review Quotes
Steven Levitsky, Harvard University, coauthor of How Democracies Die
“This book highlights an important (and underappreciated) cause of the populism that threatens American democracy: ineffective government, or a political system that consistently fails to respond to our most important problems. Hard as it may be for Americans to accept, our constitutional system has grown dysfunctional. Howell and Moe propose clear constitutional solutions that break sharply with the conventional wisdom. We should take their ideas seriously. I recommend this book to anyone concerned about the fate of American democracy."
Jeffrey K. Tulis, author of Legacies of Losing in American Politics
"Howell and Moe show that Trump’s aggressive demagoguery is a perverse symptom of an American problem of administrative weakness and explain how the presidency can be made more effective, powerful, and accountable at the same time. An original, insightful, and provocative picture of American politics in a populist era."
Douglas L. Kriner, coauthor of The Myth of the Imperial Presidency
"In this clarion call for institutional reform, Howell and Moe argue that populism is not the product of rampant polarization, political tribalism, or undemocratic features of our political system. Rather, the culprit is ineffective government. And the best antidote to populism, paradoxically, is the instrument that catapulted it to power: a reimagined presidency, one that is stronger in important respects, but weaker in others. The arguments are powerful, provocative, and sure to fuel debate over efforts to restore American democracy."
Brandice Canes-Wrone, Princeton University
"Howell and Moe make a compelling case about the relationship between ineffective government and populism, namely, that a lack of capable government gives rise to populist leaders who promise to fix the system. The authors propose a bold solution to the problem and—whether or not one agrees with all specifics—force the weight of the argument onto the question of what should be done rather than whether anything should be attempted. A must read for students and scholars interested in contemporary American politics as well as the rise of populism worldwide."
Eric M. Patashnik, author of Unhealthy Politics: The Battle over Evidence-Based Medicine
"A timely, powerfully argued book about the dangers American democracy faces from populism—and how these dangers can be overcome by making government more potent and effective. The book is concise, accessible, and crisply written. It is sure to spark important debate."
Soonish Podcast
“I've been reading a lot of books lately about how we got to this moment and what we can do about it, and Howell and Moe's book was so blunt, lucid, and smart that I felt like I had to call up Will and go deeper.”
For more information, or to order this book, please visit https://press.uchicago.edu
Google preview here
Political Science: American Government and Politics
You may purchase this title at these fine bookstores. Outside the USA, see our international sales information.
