Democracy Unchained

A stellar group of America's leading political thinkers explore how to reboot our democracy

The presidential election of 2016 highlighted some long-standing flaws in American democracy and added a few new ones. Across the political spectrum, most Americans do not believe that democracy is delivering on its promises of fairness, justice, shared prosperity, or security in a changing world. The nation cannot even begin to address climate change and economic justice if it remains paralyzed by political gridlock.

Democracy Unchained is about making American democracy work to solve problems that have long impaired our system of governance. The book is the collective work of thirty of the most perceptive writers, practitioners, scientists, educators, and journalists writing today, who are committed to moving the political conversation from the present anger and angst to the positive and constructive change necessary to achieve the full promise of a durable democracy that works for everyone and protects our common future. Including essays by Yasha Mounk on populism, Chisun Lee on money and politics, Ras Baraka on building democracy from the ground up, and Bill McKibben on climate, Democracy Unchained is the articulation of faith in democracy and will be required reading for all who are working to make democracy a reality.

Table of ContentsForeword IntroductionDavid W. OrrPart I. The Crisis of DemocracyPopulism and Democracy Yascha MounkReconstructing Our Constitutional DemocracyK. Sabeel RahmanRestoring Healthy Party CompetitionJacob S. Hacker and Paul PiersonWhen Democracy Becomes Something Else: The Problem of Elections and What to Do About ItAndrew GumbelThe Best Answer to Money in Politics After Citizens United: Public Campaign Financing in the Empire State and BeyondChisun LeeRemaking the Presidency After TrumpJeremi SuriThe Problem of PresidentialismStephen SkowronekPart II. Foundations of DemocracyRenewing the American Democratic Faith Steven C. RockefellerAmerican Land, American Democracy Eric FreyfogleRace and Democracy: The Kennedys, Obama, Trump, and Us Michael Eric DysonLiberty and Justice for All: Latina Activist Efforts to Strengthen Democracy in 2018 Maria HinojosaWhat Black Women Teach Us About Democracy Andra Gillespie and Nadia E. BrownEngines of Democracy: Racial Justice and Cultural Power Rashad RobinsonCivic and Environmental Education: Protecting the Planet and Our Democracy Judy BrausThe Supreme Court's Legitimacy Crisis and Constitutional Democracy’s Future Dawn JohnsenPart III. Policy ChallengesCan Democracy Survive the Internet? David HicktonThe New New Deal: How to Reregulate Capitalism Robert KuttnerFirst Understand Why They're Winning: How to Save Democracy from the Anti-ImmigrantFar Right Sasha Polakow-SuranskyNo Time Left: How the System Is Failing to Address Our Ultimate Crisis Bill McKibbenPowering Democracy Through Clean Energy Denise G. FairchildThe Long Crisis: American Foreign Policy Before and After Trump Jessica Tuchman MathewsPart IV. Who Acts, and How? The Case for Strong Government William S. BeckerThe States Nick RathodDemocracy in a Struggling Swing State Amy HanauerCan Independent Voters Save American Democracy? Why 42 Percent of American Voters Are Independent and How They Can Transform Our Political System Jaqueline Salit and Thom ReillyPhilanthropy and Democracy Stephen B. HeintzKeeping the Republic Dan MoulthropThe Future of Democracy Mayor Ras BarakaBuilding a University Where All People MatterMichael M. Crow, William B. Dabars, and Derrick M. AndersonBiophilia and Direct Democracy Timothy BeatleyPurpose-Driven Capitalism Mindy LubberRestoring Democracy: Nature's Trust, Human Survival, and Constitutional Fiduciary Governance 397Mary Christina WoodConclusion Ganesh Sitaraman

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