Reviews (10)

Should Judicial Review by Limited?
This is a very fine work of scholarship.The research is staggering in its comprehensiveness, and it is a definite contribution to the literature on the federal courts at a time when there is much attention being devoted to judicial power.The basic thesis of the book is that throughout American constitutional history, what the author terms "popular constitutionalism" has played a "pivotal role" in interpreting the Constitution. The author believes that "judicial supremacy" has caused a disfunction in the political system and needs to be offset by more attention to the expressions of popular direction in making interpretations. In order to argue his thesis, the author has produced a very valuable history of judicial review.
Simultaneously Over and Under Inclusive
After finishing Kramer's book, one doesn't know quite what to make of it.After all, as history, the book is about one hundred pages too long and studded with irrelevant normative snipes.But as a prescriptive policy argument, the book is needlessly morassed in early history and rests its points on a case that was never built.
This book has very troubling implications
Kramer seems to think that we have strayed from the path of letting the People decide constitutional issues. There are significant reasons why Madison and others thought that would be a problem. Freedom of speech, for example, is something that the majority of voters or their representatives in congress would do away with in an instant if it weren't for the Supreme Court. Freedom of speech is fine until some group like the communists or the nazi party tries to exercise it, then legislators try to make laws saying they can't. In our constitution it is imperative to have a less political branch deciding these issues. Yes, the Supremes make unpopular decisions sometimes, but that is their job. Allowing the boneheads in congress to decide important constitutional issues would be folly. They would play to the lowest common denominator and have us giving away our rights in the name of God or security or morality. The Constitution has a way for the people to check the Supreme Court. We can impeach them or amend the constitution. Kramer's book looks back on the golden age in 1800 when we voted out a political party because of the unconstitutional laws they passed. Does he deny the havoc some poorly thought out laws could wreak in 21st century America? We don't have time to allow people to take away American's rights with the idea we might get them back in the next election. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Constituent power    2. Constitutional    3. General    4. Government - Judicial Branch    5. History    6. History: World    7. Judicial review    8. Legal Reference / Law Profession    9. People (Constitutional law)    10. Political Ideologies - Democracy    11. United States    12. Constitution: government & the state    13. Constitutional & administrative law    14. Law / Constitutional    15. Law | Constitutional Law    16. USA   

Reviews (16)

Either Scary Journalism or Scandalous Liable
Mr. Nace documents the corruption of American law by corporations starting with a California supreme court judge who seems to have single-handedly knocked out the keystones of constituitional law. This law was established by our founding fathers to protect themselves from the abuse imposed on them by Great Britain through the manipulating hand of the East India company. The company, it seems, was disappointed with their profits after the expensive French and Indian war. This monopoly bought the English government of the time forcing through what legistlation it desired, including the Stamp Act, which initiated the Revolution. The Stamp Act was imposed to stifle the rising industry in the colonies. Understanding the power of this threat, the founders both in state law and federal law, established limits on the life of corporations. Under the original laws of this country, the corporation was regulated careful. The expansion of US industry after the Civil War created stresses on the original laws. Corporations were seen as useful entities, constrained by "unnecessary" laws. Once out of the box, they have grown unconstrained. During the 1870's the coal monopolies crushed the Molly Maguires. In the 1890's, farmers attempting to keep their liberty established the Grange movement. Other attempts by labor, and these, were crushed because they "interferred" with capital. After nearly 50 years of unconstrained growth, the fall of the Republican Congress in the early 1900s led to the rise of organized labor and the introduction of plant safety, etc. In the 1960's, corporations felt the threat of consumerism and environmentalism fueled by the fourth estate, i.e., the press. By the 1970's the corporations found ways around collusion laws and began to organize a counterattack: the institute, or think tank. Institutes do their bidding: funding favorable research (corrupting academia), sueing people who threaten them (Ophra Winfry was sued by Texas cattlemen for a comment about how poorly the FDA was handling mad cow disease.), corrupting politicians pandering to their views, and perhaps black bag operations.
Democracy lost
I found this to be a fascinating book, well researched and documented. Mr. Nace traces the history of the American Corporations from the earliest years of our union. It would be easy to draw the conclusion that Mr. Nace is anti-business, but that is not how I read his position. Instead, what he is suggesting is that we have created a monster with our catering to the "personhood" of corporations at the expense of focused small businesses.
Glad I picked this up...
I bought this book at the airport with the intention of reading a "good" but perhaps not "great" account of the rise of Corporate America. I was in for a nice surprise as quite the opposite happened, the book was great.
Read more

Subjects:  1. Business & Economics    2. Business / Economics / Finance    3. Business/Economics    4. Corporate & Business History - General    5. Industries - General    6. Management - General    7. Political Ideologies - Democracy    8. Business & Economics / Corporate History    9. Ethics & moral philosophy   

Subjects:  1. Asia - General    2. Capitalism    3. Democracy    4. East Asia    5. Government - Comparative    6. Human rights    7. Philosophy    8. Political    9. Political Ideologies - Democracy    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Asian and Asian American Studies    12. East Asia, Far East    13. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    14. Philosophy / Political    15. Political Science and International Relations    16. Political structures: democracy    17. Social & political philosophy   

Subjects:  1. Democratization    2. General    3. Government - Comparative    4. Political Ideologies - Democracy    5. Political Science    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Social networks    9. Trust    10. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    11. Political Science / General    12. Political science & theory   

Subjects:  1. General    2. Government - U.S. Government    3. Political Ideologies - Democracy    4. Political Science    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Politics/International Relations    7. Public Affairs & Administration    8. Public administration    9. State, The    10. CONSTITUTIONAL LAW    11. DEMOCRACY    12. Law / Constitutional    13. POLITICS & GOVERNMENT    14. Sociology, Social Studies   

Subjects:  1. Administrative procedure    2. Government - Comparative    3. Industrial laws and legislation    4. Legal System    5. Political Ideologies - Democracy    6. Political Science    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Trade regulation    10. United States    11. Jurisprudence & philosophy of law    12. Law / Administrative Law & Regulatory Practice    13. Law | Law & Society    14. Political science & theory   

Editorial Review

Read more

Reviews (12)

Basic
Given that Professor Dahl has written numerous books on democracy and is considered an expert in the field, "On Democracy" is surprisingly uninteresting. The book covers various aspects of democracy (history, preconditions, systems of government, elections, and its relationship to capitalism) superficially. With the exception of a few (very occasional) facts, the book provides little beyond what an educated person with an interest in democracy (e.g., college and reads the newspaper) already knows.
great for students
This book is absolutely great for students studying political culture! It describes all aspects of democracy in a very clear way and really gives you an insight in political science. I have used this book throughout my studies and it has helped me a great deal!

Ideal Democracy, plain and simple
Dahl brings up a few fascinating points in this book about the manners in which democracy is achieved and what conditions favor or disfavor democracy. He explains the system of Guardianship and the pros and cons of it (I'm under the impression that America is more of a Guardianship system than a democratic one), and points out the advantages and disadvantages of factions and interest groups which are predominant in America.
Read more

Subjects:  1. History & Theory - General    2. Philosophy    3. Political    4. Political Ideologies - Democracy    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Political Science / General    7. Political science & theory    8. Political structures: democracy   

Reviews (2)

turgid and boring to read
Few Chinese political writings translate well into English.Despite the best efforts of the traslator and editor, I was disappointed with this volume.It was turgid reading at best.The only redeeming feature about this volume is its price, especially for a hardcover.But then one buys a book for the ideas not just because it's cheap.

A unique perspective on China, from China
Most Western perspectives on China fall into two (equally wrong)camps: the celebrations of the emergence of a new economic superpower reminiscent of William Gibson on 1980s Japan or the typical right-wing paranoia of China as the new enemy.Western discourse on China's politicshas been narrowly defined by ingrained images of 1989, some dissident bloggers, and Falun Gong.Discourse on economy has equally been restricted, becoming mostly a numbers game for the foreign investor, with Chicken Littles such as Gordon Chang warning of collapse.Rarely do we consider the real interests of regular Chinese.It's anyone's guess as to what the aspirations were of the man standing in front of the tank in Tiananmen, but most assume he was fighting for "reform" against the monolithic power of the party-state.To Americans, that reform can only mean one thing.But rather than assume this man risked his life for the freedom to eat Big Macs, why not hear from one of the actual participants and find out what "reform" means in China?Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. History    3. History - General History    4. History: World    5. Political Ideologies - Democracy    6. Asian studies    7. China    8. History / China    9. Political structure & processes    10. c 1990 to c 2000   

Reviews (1)

Why we're in this mess
Mutz explains very clearly how and why political conversation in this country is stilted, unsatisfying and so often leads to more misunderstanding. She explains that the goody-two-shoes vision of democracy -- where we would all understand one another if we just had all the facts and listened -- is a fantasy. It's an excellent combination of social psychology and political science. After reading this you'll understand politics (and American society) in a much deeper way. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Anthropology - Cultural    2. Communication    3. General    4. Government - Comparative    5. History & Theory - General    6. Political Ideologies - Democracy    7. Political Science    8. Political aspects    9. Political sociology    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Politics/International Relations    12. Reference    13. Social networks    14. Political Science / General    15. Political science & theory    16. Political structures: democracy   

Reviews (4)

A Timeless insight at the psyche of politics
I feel that this book is as relevant now as it was when it was written over fifty years ago.Lippmann does a good job at looking at where American people fit into their democracy (which is more of a republic).
One of my favorites...
Walter Lippmann is one of my favorite non-fiction writers.He is a brilliant man, and his work has contributed greatly to the modern American political landscape.It's sad to see this book going out of print.Few tomes grant such insight into the fundamental weaknesses of democratic nations.In an age where the United States is the undisputed military power, some have confused democracy with god.It seems democracy is a word thrown around carelessly as a cure all for the world's ills.The Public Philosophy stays true to the Founding Father's fears that a democratic majority is capable of being as oppressive as a monarch.I highly recommend this book to any serious student of political science.

Lippmann's The Public Philosophy: Still Relevant Today
Walter Lippmann's The Public Philosophy is as relevant today as when it was written in 1955. His assertion that the traditions and customs of civility are in decline in both America and the West is only reinforced by the growing unreason and incivility of our age.Read more

Subjects:  1. American Journalism    2. Democracy    3. Political Ideologies - Democracy    4. Political science    5. Politics / Current Events    6. Sociology    7. Political science & theory    8. USA   

Subjects:  1. Democracy    2. Democratization    3. Economic assistance    4. Political Ideologies - Democracy    5. Political Science    6. Politics / Current Events    7. Politics/International Relations    8. Political structures: democracy   

Reviews (1)

Capturing the story
Most books from the Ivory Tower about community organizers tend to leave out the human side of things.Instead, Warren makes such efforts come alive on a human level.Not only does he capture the challenges the group faces, he captures the story.He lets the organizers speak directly to the reader.As more and more of the nation's big cities become "majority minority," we willneed books like this one that address head-on thorny issues of cross-racial cooperation.Bottom line:it's a very entertaining read. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. Community development, Urban    2. Community organization    3. History & Theory - General    4. Industrial Areas Foundation    5. Political Ideologies - Democracy    6. Political Science    7. Politics / Current Events    8. Politics/International Relations    9. Sociology - General    10. Southwestern States    11. Texas    12. Political Science / History & Theory    13. Political Science and International Relations    14. Political structures: democracy    15. Social & cultural anthropology    16. Social groups & communities    17. Sociology    18. USA   

Subjects:  1. 20th century    2. Democratization    3. General    4. History    5. Latin America    6. Latin America - General    7. Political History    8. Political Ideologies - Democracy    9. Political Science    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Politics and government    12. Politics/International Relations    13. Political Science / General    14. Political structures: democracy   

Reviews (1)

Is Africa undergoing democratization?
Since independence most African governments have been, in the authors' words, authoritarian and "neopatrimonial". Why was there an outburst of democracy in these nations during the early 1990s, followed bya slide back toward authoritarianism? To answer this question, the authorssurvey democratization theory, and they compare the African experience todemocratization in Latin America and Eastern Europe. The authors' answer tothe above question, very simply put, is that beneath the appearance ofdemocratization, all the structural sources of authoritarianism persisted-- and still persist today. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 1960-    2. Africa - General    3. Africa, Sub-Saharan    4. Democracy    5. International Relations - General    6. Political Ideologies - Democracy    7. Political Science    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics and government    10. Politics/International Relations    11. Democracy--Africa, Sub-Saharan    12. Political Science / General    13. Political structures: democracy    14. Sub-Saharan Africa   

Reviews (3)

Machiavelli Misunderstood?
I read this book while researching the "Protocols of the Learned Elders of Zion."Clearly "Protocols" was heavily plagiarized from this work and was a forgery to boot.In any event, this is a captivating tale of a conversation between Machiavelli (counselor to despots) and Montesquieu (philosophical and political father of the U.S. Constitution.)Machiavelli claims to be misunderstood but as the dialogue progresses it seems painfully evident that he is generally not.
A great book with a sad history
As noted in every book I've ever read about the infamous forgery, _The Protocols of the Elders of Zion_, this book was the source, edited beyond recogintion by the Czar's secret police.
Not for the Optimist
Before I can even begin about the book, the story BEHIND the book is amazing.It would not surprise me if Cheney had a copy of the German version somewhere in his desk as Bush probably wouldn't understand a third of the amazing ideas put forth in this formerly banned book.Read more

Subjects:  1. History & Theory - General    2. Political Ideologies - Democracy    3. Political Science    4. Politics / Current Events    5. Politics/International Relations    6. Political Science / Democracy   

Subjects:  1. Civil society    2. Democracy    3. History & Theory - General    4. Liberalism    5. Political Ideologies - Democracy    6. Political Science    7. Politics - Current Events    8. Politics / Current Events    9. Politics/International Relations    10. Philosophy / Political    11. Political structures: democracy   

Reviews (7)

A Good Fiction writer
The book is a great work of fiction. Let it be known that Berlow most probably did not spend so much time researching.
Inaccurate and irresponsible
Alan Berlow is a good writer, he is detailed and you can easily picture yourself in the locations he describes. I think he can be a very good fiction writer, which is essentially what Dead Season is. I am a Philippine resident and I have read similiar accounts of the events Berlow mentioned. Yes, there are cover ups and the usual government corruption, but what I think was foul was his irresponsible descriptions of some people, which brings no value, except picture Berlow as a racist.

Heavy on Atmospherics, Light on Understanding
Having lived on Negros for a couple of years, I think that Berlow didn't understand much of what may have really been going on in the incident he describes. The provinces are very different from Manila. I got more of a sense of the author's dread and foreboding than much insight into what really happened, or into the cultural, political and economic background to the murders.Read more

Subjects:  1. History & Theory - General    2. International Relations - General    3. Mystery/Suspense    4. Political Ideologies - Democracy    5. Political Science    6. Politics / Current Events    7. True Crime / Murder   

Reviews (1)

Two Books In One
Democracy of the Dead: Dewey, Confucius, and the Hope for Democracy in China is an impressive attempt at dialogue between Confucianism and American Pragmatism on the subject of fostering democratic reforms in China. It is both a history of philosophy text, highlighting Dewey's thought and subsequent Pragmatist scholars, liberalism, and Confucianism, and a polemic about the limitations of liberal thought in China. Although some acquaintance with the texts interpreted by the authors is recommended, the authors' synopses are trustworthy and ably and judiciously given. There are also generous quotes and and a and a nine-page bibliography provided. Read more

Subjects:  1. Asia - China    2. China    3. Confucianism    4. Democracy    5. Dewey, John,    6. Eastern - General    7. History & Theory - General    8. History - General History    9. Political    10. Political Ideologies - Democracy    11. Political Philosophy    12. Political Science    13. Political culture    14. Politics/International Relations    15. Contributions in democracy    16. Cultural studies    17. Dewey, John    18. Modern Western philosophy, c 1600 to the present    19. Non-Western philosophy    20. Political structures: democracy   

Reviews (10)

Future history of Iraq
This book is structured in a very simple manner, following the history of this country:
Iraq History 101
This book should have been required reading for those eager to enter Iraq, overthrow Saddam Hussein, and install a Western-style democracy.The book has three main points: (a) a history of Iraq from its flawed beginnings after World War I; (b) an analysis of each of the three main groups--Sunnis, Shia, and Kurds; (c) an examination of different scenarios that might illuminate the future of Iraq.
concise and well written, read this book
Anderson and Stansfield have written one of the best books on Iraq currently on the market.This book would be a wonderful place to start for those who have taken an increased interest in Iraq as of late.
Read more

Subjects:  1. 1958-    2. Democracy    3. History    4. History & Theory - General    5. History: World    6. International Relations - General    7. Iraq    8. Iraq - History    9. Iraq War, 2003    10. Middle East - General    11. Political    12. Political Ideologies - Democracy    13. Political Process - Leadership    14. Politics / Current Events    15. Politics and government    16. Politics/International Relations    17. Systems Of Government    18. 20th century    19. 21st century    20. Asian / Middle Eastern history: postwar, from c 1945 -    21. Defence strategy, planning & research    22. International relations    23. Political Science / International Relations   

Reviews (14)

Outdated
Nothing in this book is new. If you know anything about Pat Buchanan, Samuel Francis, or any of the other conservatives who opposed immigration and World War II intervention, you will be familiar with the arguments set forth in this book. Ryn attempts to give these ancient political arguments with a relativistic and postmodernist tint so as to make it appealing to modern-day liberals, who love anyone that offers a criticism of neoconservatives, as well as old school conservatives that have nostalgia for the 1780s. Indeed, though Ryn would deny this, much of this book is nostalgia. The world and foreign policy has changed so much (due to high tech weapons and globalization) that preaching isolationism and relativism is not only silly, but irresponsible. The problem with this mindset, of course, is that it's impossible to detect totalitarianism with it. For a better argument that can swiftly discredit Ryn read anything by Thomas Jefferson, Abraham Lincoln, or more importantly, Winston Churchill. If this criticism of Ryn's book does not convince you, I assure you that this book has many grammatical errors to keep any intelligent reader from touching this outlandish and outdated book.

the best short book on the geneology of neoconservatism
it's hard to gain a sense of scope, in a short book, of the depth of the malicious current which now afflicts american politics in the fascist redux of neoconservatism. ryn does admirably, tracing the mindset of radical/revolutionary polarized idealism such as we see today in neoconservatism to the rousseauian jacobins.
Does anyone here know anything about the real Jacobin?
These reviews are so weird here. Does anyone question Ryn's use of the word Jacobin ? Does anyone here know what a Jacobin is ? The Jacobins describe a group of clubs in France that originally supported a constitutional monarchy, then, when Louis XVI proved unwillingly to submit to a constitution, these clubs supported a democratic republic. The group then split into two opposing halves, the Girondists and the Mountain. The former where moderates, the latter, the winners, the radical republicans from which the Terror eventually came. After the Terror, the Jacobins were disbanded, but allowed to reform after a while. But then Napoleon came along, the Jacobins opposed him and again, the clubs were disbanded. But it has to be remembered that the Jacobins were the original group agitating for the three cardinals of French enlightment: fraternity, liberty, equality. I don't see these American neocons agitating for those causes, but for the opposite causes, albeit they mask their fascistic tendencies under the cloak of American values. And it is good to remember that the Jacobin started out agitating for a legaslative body, the National Assembly, that would work with the king, and only when the king and his supporters kept thwarting the Assembly's efforts did the regime turn bloody. And it is good to remember that if America were not separated from England by the ocean, the American Revolution could have been as equally bloody. The English themselves went through such a bloody revolution with the overthrow of the Stuarts and the establishment of the Commonwealth, which included beheading the king. And it is also good to remember that the founders of America were as inspired by Enlightment thought as the French were and weren't only protesting over the loss of age old Engligh gentleman's rights. If I were Ryn, I would have used the term neo-fascist to describe what Shrub and his associates are doing, both in American and abroad, not neo-Jacobin. His understanding of the intricacies of the French revolution seems shallow. ... Read more

Subjects:  1. 2001-    2. Democracy    3. Foreign relations    4. Imperialism    5. International Relations - General    6. Intervention (International law)    7. Philosophy    8. Political Ideologies - Democracy    9. Political Science    10. Politics / Current Events    11. Politics/International Relations    12. United States    13. United States - General    14. American studies    15. Political Science / General    16. Political structures: democracy    17. USA