The People vs. Democracy, Yascha Mounk
The People vs. Democracy, Yascha Mounk
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The People vs. Democracy
Why Our Freedom Is in Danger and How to Save It

Author: Yascha Mounk

Narrator: Timothy Andrés Pabon

Unabridged: 8 hr 20 min

Format: Digital Audiobook Download (DRM Protected)

Published: 04/24/2018


Synopsis

“We can no longer assume that liberal democracy is the wave of the future… This splendid book is an invaluable contribution to the debate about what ails democracy, and what can be done about it.” ―Michael J. Sandel, author of Justice“Everyone worried about the state of contemporary politics should read this book.” ―Anne-Marie Slaughter, President of the New America FoundationThe world is in turmoil. From Russia, Turkey, and Egypt to the United States, authoritarian populists have seized power. As a result, democracy itself may now be at risk.Two core components of liberal democracy―individual rights and the popular will―are increasingly at war with each other. As the role of money in politics soared and important issues were taken out of public contestation, a system of “rights without democracy” took hold. Populists who rail against this say they want to return power to the people. But in practice they create something just as bad: a system of “democracy without rights.” The consequence, as Yascha Mounk shows in this brilliant and timely book, is that trust in politics is dwindling. Citizens are falling out of love with their political system. Democracy is wilting away. Drawing on vivid stories and original research, Mounk identifies three key drivers of voters’ discontent: stagnating living standards, fear of multiethnic democracy, and the rise of social media. To reverse the trend, politicians need to enact radical reforms that benefit the many, not the few.The People vs. Democracy is the first book to describe both how we got here and what we need to do now. For those unwilling to give up either individual rights or the concept of the popular will, Mounk argues that urgent action is needed, as this may be our last chance to save democracy.

About Yascha Mounk

Yascha Mounk is a Lecturer on Government at Harvard University and a Senior Fellow in the Political Reform Program at New America.


Reviews

Goodreads review by Kressel on July 08, 2018

Yascha Mounk, the author of this book, is a political science professor at Harvard University, but I’ve become familiar with him from his podcast on Slate, “The Good Fight.” The fight he is talking about, both on the podcast and in this book, is for nothing less than saving democracy. Professor Mounk......more

Goodreads review by Soren on April 15, 2018

This is, so far, the best book that I have read on the global democratic crisis. I say this for several reasons. First, it admits to the validity of the populist challenge. There has been a fundamental failure of a governing system to respond to the challenges and lives of voters. Second, it notes th......more

Goodreads review by Judy on March 14, 2018

Adding context to the news and current events of the day, this writer makes sense of it all. I could barely put this book down. Mounk offers a well-researched explanation of why government is the way it is today. He offers a historical perspective that spans the world. He tends to current events in......more

Goodreads review by Why-why on May 14, 2018

This will have to be the last Yascha Mounk book I read. Mounk has a knack for selecting timely subject matter for his books that address some of the hottest topics of the day, but with very little to say. Similar to the last book of his that I read, I find his arguments to be besides the point to th......more

Goodreads review by Linda on July 04, 2019

This is one of the best analysis of the populist threat to democracy that I have read. The writing is clear and accessible. It is obvious Mounk’s goal is to reach a wide audience and enlist them in a cause he cares passionately about... saving liberal democracy before it is too late!!......more