Subjects:  1. 1980-    2. Democracy    3. Democratization    4. Government - Comparative    5. Latin America    6. Political Ideologies - Democracy    7. Political Science    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics and government    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Political Science / Foreign Legal Systems    12. Political structures: democracy    13. Politics | Comparative Politics | Latin America   

Reviews (19)

paranoia
.....A few word will suffice here:this book is a gutter raker and nothing more.A crying towl for all the inncocents of the 3rd world and 4th world who sit on their little thrones of garbage and blame the USA for not picking it up fast enough. Where was europe when kosovo was being destroyed? nowhere!! and who came to pull them out of their quandry..?The USA..Now this country is being blamed for being to rough, to Bad!!And where is europe when islamic killers blow up airplanes and synagogues? nowhere!!!Once again the europeans are afraid of offending their muslim masters (much like before the crusades).And, yes I am proud of our unilateralism, we are not an appendage of the UN with it's Treaty of the Month Club.Let's see how islam does with its honor killings and sharai before we sign away our rights with the weaklings of the world.

Derailing Democracy By David McGowan: A Review
When I read the synopsis of this book on the back cover I instantly knew this book would be interesting.Just as the title states this book is derailing democracy, sending it head over heels.Democracy would be an excellent form of government.Having the right to vote people into office instead of them just being appointed.All of the citizens having his or her own voice to change things for the better.In theory this sounds like the only truly fair and just government.When we think of the beautiful land we call the U.S.A we instantly associate it with freedom and justice for all with every man created equal.Derailing democracy shows the darker side and the price we pay for this "freedom".Whether it be giving the Taliban three million dollars in the 1980's, or basically hiring Saddam Huessien to wipe out Iran.Ironically many of the weapons that are killing the American soldiers now are either the left over landmines they planted decades ago or the weapons and ammunition they gave to Saddam and his men.But obviously the people of this country would not vote to give our enemies weapons to kill our other enemies, it doesn't make sense.What David McGowan shows us is that there are many ways to get around the whole democracy idea.For example the government tries to "market" the bill they want passed as something that will benefit the general public.For example McGowan writes, "You may have noticed that many of the motorists you see pulled over on the side of the highway are black or Hispanic.You may have attributed to this to some kind of unspoken law-enforcement racism.You may be surprised to learn that it's the result of a federal program.Called Operation Pipeline" Exposing gross hypocrisy and injustices
Packed with numerous essential facts, this book provides a detailed account of serious transgressions and violations of international law perpetrated by the U.S. government, the facts which can be ignored and dismissed only by jingoists. This book reveals an extremely flawed foreign policy of the United States. McGowan argues that the U.S. foreign policy makers seek to protect strategic and economic interests of the U.S. at any cost, even if many innocent people have to be sacrificed, that is as long as they are not Americans. According to McGowan, U.S. has shown no signs that it cares about the poor, the victimized and the oppressed. On the contrary, U.S. has consistently and systematically opposed every U.N. resolution stipulating a right to food and acknowledging children's rights and the rights of Palestinians. Morever, U.S. has vetoed every U.N. resolution calling for a condemnation of Israeli human rights violations. No one seems to wonder why no U.N. inspectors have been allowed to enter the facilities in Israel in which weapons of mass destruction have been produced. Why does not the U.S. coerce Israel to cooperate with the U.N.? Why does the U.S. knowingly hamper development of poor countries? Why does not the U.S. ratify the agreement banning the use of chemical and biological weapons? Why does the U.S. collaborate with terrorists when it serves the interests of the U.S.? This book divulges unfathomable injustices and gross violations of international law perpatrated by the only remaining superpower in the world. Even though this book contains a great number of important facts, it lacks a detailed analysis and for that reason I gave it four stars. For an elaborate and meticulous analysis of the U.S. foreign policy, I strongly recommend a book called Why do people hate America by Ziauddin Sardar and Merryl Wyn Davies; irrefutably the best book on the subject matter. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1980-    2. 1989-    3. Government - U.S. Government    4. Media Studies    5. Miscellanea    6. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    7. Political Ideologies - Democracy    8. Political Science    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics and government    11. Politics/International Relations    12. Social conditions    13. Social problems    14. United States    15. Civil rights & citizenship    16. Political Science / General    17. Current Events    18. Politics   

Reviews (3)

After the inspiration: How to create a future worth living
Tom Atlee's work illustrates the positive impact citizen deliberative councils can have where divisive public issues stall as intractable conflict. Utterly Sensational--Basic Book for Humanity
A thoughtful and philosophical work
Tom Atlee's The Tao Of Democracy: Using Co-Intelligence To Create A World That Works For All offers the reader a positive viewpoint on and for creating a democracy founded upon wisdom, citizen participation, a culture of dialogue, and in an harmonious balance that encourages the best in people. A thoughtful and philosophical work written specifically to stave off the impending self-destructive side of current civilization, The Tao Of Democracy is recommended reading for students of Political Science and Philosophy. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Democracy    2. Eastern - Taoism    3. Intellect    4. Political    5. Political Ideologies - Democracy    6. Political Science    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Social change    10. International relations    11. Taoism   

Subjects:  1. 1945-    2. Current Affairs    3. Democracy    4. History & Theory - General    5. International Relations - General    6. International relations    7. Political    8. Political Ideologies - Democracy    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. World politics    12. Political Philosophy    13. Political Science / International Relations    14. Political Science and International Relations    15. Political control & freedoms    16. Political science & theory    17. Political structures: democracy   

Reviews (3)

A fine authoritative text
I want to second the review of P. O'Neil and support his response to the irresponsible and misinformed review of M. Story.I also use this text in teaching a college course on European Politics.As O'Neil correctly points out, Richard Rose is one of the world's leading authorities on British politics and political history, and his chapter on Britain provides an excellent overview.The chapters on the other countries are equally thorough and impressive.

Accurate Reviews are Helpful
I feel that is it necessary to respond to the earlier review of this text, who claims that authors somehow didn't get their study of the UK correct, which therefore undermines the legitimacy of this book.If the reviewer had 1) read this book carefully and 2) knew anything of political science, he would have noted that Richard Rose, who wrote the chapter on the UK, is one of the foremost scholars of the country and, incidentally, teaches in the UK--not the US.The reviwer's criticisms of this chapter range from the petty (interchanging the terms Britain and UK, which one happens to hear all the time and is a common usage) to the patently incorrect (the author covers both the dissolution and recreation of Stormont on p. 92).Each of the book's scholars is a well-known expert in their field, while the overseeing editors are some of the most respected political scientists in the field.The chapters do an excellent job summarizing and analyzing the cases, which I can attest to from having taught with this book since it was in draft form nearly a decade ago.A better text on Europe cannot be found.

Factually incorrect and hastily-written.
I was recommended this book on the basis that it might serve as an introduction to comparisons between European political systems. Having spent an extortionate amount of money on a copy, I found it to be an introduction to things that go wrong if you let your secretary write your book. Being English I was able to spot the glaring errors written about my own country with ease (examples include the authors being unaware of the Stormont Parliament, using the words Britain and United Kingdom interchangeably, and a total lack of understanding of the way in which parliamentary democracy works in the UK), but when I turned to the chapters concerning countries in mainland Europe, about whose governmental machinations I knew (and still know) little, I found myself unable to trust the material, since I had no way of knowing whether any of it was true. It may have been a momentary lapse of the part of the authors that led them to fail so miserably in their attempt to understand the United Kingdom, but I am sure it is much easier for a team based in the United States to examine British political life than to look closely at the parliamentary process of Sweden or the Czech Republic, and since they were unable to avoid schoolboy errors in their reporting of the former, I feel I can be forgiven for my assumption that their accuracy in the latter probably left something to be desired. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1989-    2. Democracy    3. Democratization    4. Europe    5. Europe, Western    6. International Relations - General    7. Political Ideologies - Democracy    8. Political Science    9. Politics - Current Events    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Politics and government    12. Politics/International Relations    13. Political Science / General   

Reviews (3)

Good collection of essays on U.S. president
Rivals for Power is an interesting collection of essays edited by James Thurber with the intent of exploring what the roots of rivalry between the president and Congress are.The chapters in the book present original research organized around several themes and written from a variety of perspectives.Political scientists, legal scholars, historians, journalists, former White House and Capitol Hill staff, and former members of Congress all contribute. excellent scientific overview of government relations
James Thurber's "Rivals For Power" is a collection of excellent essays concerning topics found in the relationship between the United States' Congress and office of the Presidency.The text is filled with substantial hypothesis' of the causes of potential relations and uses easy-to-understand scientific methods to illustrate these theories.A must read for any student of American Politics.

Excellent Undergraduate Text
Highly recommend for classroom reading on complex relationship betweenCongress and President. A must for political science students. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Congress    3. Government - Executive Branch    4. Government - U.S. Government    5. Political Ideologies - Democracy    6. Political Science    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics and government    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Presidents    11. United States    12. United States.    13. Political Science / Democracy   

Subjects:  1. Jurisprudence    2. Law    3. Legal Reference / Law Profession    4. Political Ideologies - Communism & Socialism    5. Political Ideologies - Democracy    6. Law / Jurisprudence    7. Law and socialism    8. Political Science-Political Ideologies - Communism & Socialism    9. Political Science-Political Ideologies - Democracy    10. Political aspects    11. Rule of law   

Subjects:  1. Former Soviet republics    2. Legitimacy of governments    3. Mass media    4. Political Ideologies - Democracy    5. Political Science    6. Political aspects    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics, Practical    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Post-Communism    11. Current Events / General    12. Former Soviet Union, USSR (Europe)    13. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    14. Political structure & processes    15. World history: postwar, from c 1945 -   

Subjects:  1. History    2. History - U.S.    3. History: American    4. Political History    5. Political Ideologies - Democracy    6. United States - 19th Century    7. American history: c 1800 to c 1900    8. Constitution: government & the state    9. Economic history    10. History / United States / 19th Century    11. Industry & Industrial Studies    12. North America    13. Political economy    14. USA    15. United States--Economic conditions--1865-1918    16. c 1800 to c 1900   

Reviews (1)

Uneven, especially for a third edition
I am currently using this textbook for my introductory course in American politics.It is the second time I am using this text, and I will likely use it at least once more.So while I say that this book is uneven, it is still better than most other introductory texts out there.
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Subjects:  1. Civics & Citizenship    2. Democracy    3. Political Ideologies - Democracy    4. Political Science    5. Politics - Current Events    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Politics and government    8. Politics/International Relations    9. United States    10. Political Science / General    11. Political structures: democracy    12. USA   

Reviews (3)

Excellent 101 Survey
This is an excellent 'first look' deeper into American politics, and should be required reading for Poli Sci 101 classes. What separates 'Challenge of Democracy' from most other 'beginner's' political science books is its unabashed but un-partisianed look at the workings of the Amnerican political system from the inside out and the outside in. The title alone suggests that Democracy is not a one way street from the Hill down, but something which needs to be constantly nurtured and protected from going astray. The 'challenge' is also in using our political system as a tool to maintain our freedoms and as a vehicle for change to enable us more freedoms and at the same time greater security. In short, 'The Challenge of Democracy' will get one thinking deeper about the inner-workings and dynamics of the American political system by focusing on a broader spectrum of its use, abuse, and everyday applications.

Guide to American Government
I read this book in my government class at Bakersfield College.This book is an excellent place to start for anyone who is interested in learning about how our government works, but are unsure of where to start.This book breaks down the workings of our governement in clear and easy to read chapters.I highly recommed this book to everyone who cares about America and wants to understand what goes on in Washington D.C., and in other parts of America as well.

Not very much
This book helps us to study English at our University. We learn how the justce is administered in USA from "The Challenge of Democracy." It`s a little bit boring, but on the other way it is very nice source oflegal terms ... Read more

Subjects:  1. General    2. Political Ideologies - Democracy    3. Political Science    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Politics/International Relations   

Reviews (1)

Democracy in Perspective
Democracy is spoken of as the panacea for the world's woes.Fukuyama's END OF HISTORY seemed to operate just on this premise.Crick's book focuses on democracy's historical evolution, its polyvalent adaptations and its transformation into republicanism.Following his essay from Greece to Rome to American and European democracy, we see how democracy is not necessarily another way of saying just and/or good politics.Most interesting are the final chapters on the conditions needed for a democratic polity and the responsibilities of the individual in a system of democratic citizenship.He ends with a nice quote from Reinhold Niebuhr, "Man's inclination to justice makes democracy possible; but man's capacity for injustice makes it necessary." ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Democracy    2. History    3. Political Ideologies - Democracy    4. Political Science    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Political Science / Democracy    8. Political structures: democracy    9. Politics | Political Theory   

Subjects:  1. International Relations - General    2. Peace    3. Political Ideologies - Democracy    4. Political Science    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Political leaders & leadership    8. Political parties    9. Political structures: democracy   

Subjects:  1. Democracy    2. History & Theory - General    3. Philosophy    4. Political    5. Political Ideologies - Conservatism & Liberalism    6. Political Ideologies - Democracy    7. Political science    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Right and left (Political scie    10. Right and left (Political science)    11. Philosophy / Political    12. Political science & theory   

Editorial Review

If one is to believe William Shutkin, the times of environmental avengers demonstrating in the streets against huge global organizations may someday be just a memory. In Shutkin's vision, the next stage of environmentalism will be a democratic, partnered one, with interest groups working together rather than vying to defeat each other, reaching consensus and making long-term plans that benefit both the environment and the community. This vision is called civic environmentalism, "the explicit link between environmental problem solving and the goal of community building ... ensuring the quality and sustainability of our communities, economically, socially, and environmentally."Read more

Reviews (4)

Good book, needs an editor
This book has a lot of very valuable information about ways the environmental movement has been less than effective, and ways it could improve. It helped me understand some of the problems I've had with organizations like the Sierra Club and Earth Island Institute. I've felt guilty for not wanting to donate to these organizations. This book put words to my feelings that these organizations have focused on litigation at the expense of participation by average people like me who want to be involved.
relief from the gloom-and-doom
Not that Shutkin fails to understand how serious our environmental problems are.He knows.This is no Polyanna-style tale a la Greg Easterbrook, telling lies about how trivial environmental degradation is inorder to sell books.Shutkin ralizes that our problems are serious, evenlife-threatening.But he thinks that we can begin to resolve them, if onlywe can find the will to begin, rather in the style of Diana Muir in her newbook Bullough's Pond.Some of his solutions may not be workable, butsurely Shutkin is correct to urge us to try.

A lyrical and compelling work -- though somewhat Utopian
Bill Shutkin's sensitivity to the environment and the human dimension of ecological concerns shines through brilliantly in this book. The case studies which are at the core of his narrative and his exposition of environmental problems are well-researched, and well-experienced. As anactivist/lawyer/entrepreneur/academic, Shutkin provides an unusual blend ofinsights which are indeed rare in environmental literature.Read more

Subjects:  1. Development - Sustainable Development    2. Earth Sciences - Geography    3. Environmental Conservation & Protection - General    4. Environmental Studies    5. Nature    6. Political Ideologies - Democracy    7. Public Policy - General    8. Science/Mathematics    9. Environmental economics    10. Political science & theory    11. Science / Environmental Science   

Subjects:  1. Authoritarianism    2. Democracy    3. Democratization    4. History & Theory - Radical Thought    5. International Relations - General    6. International cooperation    7. Political Ideologies - Democracy    8. Political Science    9. Politics / Current Events    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Political structures: democracy   

Subjects:  1. Citizenship    2. Civics & Citizenship    3. History & Theory - General    4. Political Ideologies - Democracy    5. Political Process - Elections    6. Political Science    7. Political participation    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics/International Relations    10. United States    11. Political structures: democracy   

Reviews (1)

Excellent Analysis of Why the LDP Won and the Opposition Lost in Japan
This is an excellent book. It fundamentally challenges scholars understanding of one of the most interesting party phenomena in industrialized democracies: the long-term dominance of the Liberal Democratic Party in Japan. I heartily recommend it to anyone interested in party politics or Japanese democracy. Scheiner is also a gifted writer, so the book is often a pleasure to read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Democracy    2. General    3. Japan    4. Jiyu Minshuto    5. Patronage, Political    6. Political Ideologies - Democracy    7. Political Process - Political Parties    8. Political Science    9. Political parties    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Politics/International Relations    12. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    13. Political Science / General   

Subjects:  1. Criminology    2. Political Freedom & Security - General    3. Political Ideologies - Democracy    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Social Science    6. Sociology    7. Crime & criminology    8. Social Science / Criminology    9. Violence in society   

Subjects:  1. Democracy    2. History & Theory - General    3. Justice    4. Multiculturalism    5. Pluralism (Social sciences)    6. Political    7. Political Freedom & Security - Civil Rights    8. Political Ideologies - Democracy    9. Political Science    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Politics/International Relations    12. Civil rights & citizenship    13. Multicultural studies    14. Philosophy-Political    15. Political Science / History & Theory    16. Political science & theory    17. Politics | Political Theory