Democracy's Moment : Reforming the American Political System for the 21st Century (People, Passions, and Power) [Paperback]

Ronald Hayduk (Author), Kevin Mattson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0742517500 | ISBN-13: 978-0742517509 | Publication Date: June 15, 2002

The two-month long Election Day in Florida made one thing clear: We need to find ways to make the American political system more responsive to the demands of all citizens. This book provides a critical assessement of a broad range of electoral reforms proposed to enhance responsive government. The book aims not only to analyze the obstacles to full political participation, but to capitalize on the window of opportunity that election 2000 has provided to make our political system more truly democratic--to realize 'democracy's moment.'

Editorial Reviews

Review

Bringing together a rich and thoughtful collection of essays written by democratic theorists, researchers, and practitioners, Democracy's Moment provides a thoughtful and compelling argument for the need to rediscover our tradition of democratic reform, and a pragmatic blueprint for how to do so. This book should be read by anyone interested in the theory and practice of participatory democracy. (Delli Carpini, Michael X. )

Democracy's Moment is a tremendously important contribution to a moment in our nation's history--democracy's moment, hopefully--when we can make major progress toward reforming our democratic processes and practices to make them as vibrant, inclusive, and fully participatory as we possibly can. The book contains a terrific assortment of historical analyses, current trends, and particular policy proposals aimed at making democracy truly work. (Miles S. Rapoport )

This volume is filled with sound theory and practical approaches to solving the problem of nonparticipation in the U.S.'s political life. The presidential election of 2000 may have presented the American political system with the moment it has been waiting for--the moment to undertake serious, meaningful reform. Those who share that interest will find this volume enormously helpful. Recommended. (Choice Magazine )

A valuable overview of the many ways to strengthen democracy . . . the varied approaches in this book, all moving together, are an agenda that can bear fruit over time. (Future Survey )

The book is not just a valuable contribution to political science, but a passionate pleading for reforms in the tradition of the progressive movement as most openly demonstrated in the concluding remarks. The volume can be recommended either to the student of U.S. electoral matters or to the reform activist; ideally--one is tempted to assume--the reader may be both. (Political Studies Review )

Listening to most academics and pundits, you would not necessarily believe it: but this IS democracy's moment. Ronald Hayduk and Kevin Mattson are to be congratulated for bringing together a wise group of essayists who combine a detailed knowledge of the electoral system with a democratic imagination grounded in the best of American historical traditions. This is the rare book that could produce a genuinely better civic life. (Robert D. Johnston )

About the Author

Ronald Hayduk is assistant professor of political science at Borough of Manhattan Community College.
Kevin Mattson is associate professor of history at Ohio University and faculty associate at the Contemporary History Institute at Ohio University.

Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (June 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0742517500
• ISBN-13: 978-0742517509
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 5.9 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #5,093,396 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars where's the progress?, April 19, 2005

By 

L history "santa barbara" (santa barbara) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Democracy's Moment : Reforming the American Political System for the 21st Century (People, Passions, and Power) (Hardcover)

Hayduk and Mattson assemble a work that appears on the surface to have a progressive perspective however they offer us a reminder that a left title does not translate in to a popular critique. The articles on the whole are a randomly assembled and inaccessable even to the high school reader. This work is prescriptive and does not provide a background to the political development of the U.S. While hindsight is 20-20 -- the kind of reform the editors' prescribe is not in the works. This is mostly hyperbole and boosterism, but for most readers, it is rather shallow and certainly way off the mark.

Wish this was a good book given the importance of the topic.

1.0 out of 5 stars democracy or "Populist Moment", April 18, 2005

By 

Raymond C "RC SC" (Santa Cruz) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Democracy's Moment : Reforming the American Political System for the 21st Century (People, Passions, and Power) (Hardcover)

The author's do not prove that this is democracy's movement. The mainstream analysis provides more of the same hot air on using the U.S. political system to create a democratic "moment". The authors carelessly commandeer part of the title of historian Lawrence Goodwyn's "Populist Moment" a hisorical text that indeed tells us about genuine democracy and the experiential nature of popular participation. The editors do not provide help in understanding how real people actually participate in civic life.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars liberal prescription, April 18, 2005

By 

Marcus Arriliano "left network" (Los Angeles) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Democracy's Moment : Reforming the American Political System for the 21st Century (People, Passions, and Power) (Hardcover)

This book is no help in understanding the misuse of political institutions in the U.S. It has absolutely no focus, meandering from essay to essay with no apparent methodological fraework. The various essays seem to be readily accessible virtually anywhere else in the literature. The editors do not demonstrate a sense of historical analysis, the power of corporate economic interests in shaping the political system,, nor an understanding of the efforts of the upper class to use politics as a means of advancing their interests. Even if one were to accept the reformist notions proffered here, the writers do not present how reforming the American political system will work. The prescriptive nature provided by the authors does not shed light on radical alternatives. The editors succeeding in advancing a right-wing political and economic agenda by offering hope where none exists.