The Irony of Democracy: An Uncommon Introduction to American Politics [Paperback]

Thomas R. Dye (Author), Harmon Zeigler (Author), L. Harmon Zeigler (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 21, 1999 | ISBN-10: 0155058002 | ISBN-13: 978-0155058002 | Edition: 11th

A study of American government. In this eleventh edition, Thomas Dye again presents an unrepentant elitist approach to American democracy, contending that it is the elites, and not the masses, that govern the country. While the theme of the text may be uncommon, Dye provides a solid introduction to American government and politics through contrasting elite theory to democratic theory and to modern pluralist political theory in examinations of the U.S. Constitution, political history, power structures, public opinion, mass media, elections, parties, interest groups, the Presidency, Congress, the Bureaucracy, and more. The text strongly encourages students to formulate their own political views, and to decide for themselves whether elite theory indeed applies.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"The elite approach sparks students' interest. Their level of incredulity promotes more reading of the text and a fuller context of elitism. The language of the text is straightforward and understandable." -- Aaron Rodrigues, Cuesta College

"A much more interesting read than most of the other first-year American Government texts." -- Bob Peter, Tri-County Technical College --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

About the Author

Thomas R. Dye is Emeritus Professor of Political Science at Florida State University. He received his B.S. and M.A from Pennsylvania State University and his Ph.D. from the University of Pennsylvania. He is the author of numerous books and articles on American government and public policy. Dye has served as president of the Southern Political Science Association, president of the Policy Studies Organization, and secretary of the American Political Science Association. He is the recipient of the Harold Lassell Award for career contributions to the study of public policy, and the Donald C. Stone Award for career contributions to the study of federalism. He received the Outstanding Alumni Award in 2001 from Penn State's College of Liberal Arts. Dye has taught at the University of Pennsylvania, the University of Wisconsin, and the University of Georgia. He served as visiting scholar at Bar-Elan University, Israel; and the Brookings Institution, Washington.

Harmon Zeigler has taught at numerous universities, including the Florida State University, Emory University, the University of Georgia, the University of Oregon, State University of New York (Stony Brook), New York University, and the University of Washington. Abroad, he has taught at the University of Oslo, Sydney University, and Passau University. In addition to THE IRONY OF DEMOCRACY: AN UNCOMMON INTRODUCTION TO AMERICAN POLITICS, he and Thomas R. Dye wrote AMERICAN POLITICS IN THE MEDIA AGE. His other books include: INTEREST GROUPS IN AMERICAN SOCIETY, GOVERNING AMERICAN SCHOOLS (with Kent Jennings), THE QUEST FOR RESPONSIVE GOVERNMENT (with Harvey Tucker), THE POLITICAL COMMUNITY, PLURALISM, CORPORATISM AND CONFUCIANISM, and POLITICAL PARTIES IN INDUSTRIAL DEMOCRACIES. He has received two Fulbright awards and was named a Guggenheim Fellow in 1970. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Wadsworth Pub Co; 11th edition (June 21, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0155058002
• ISBN-13: 978-0155058002
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (22 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,156,664 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The quality most introductory book don't have., December 6, 2003

By 

"legal_geek" - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Irony of Democracy (with InfoTrac) (Paperback)

"The Irony of Democracy" was my college-level introduction to American politics, and I feel it provided me something far greater than any of the political/historical texts I read in high school. Instead of the same details of Democrats as the longest political party and Columbus crossing the ocean blue in 1492, Dye and Zeigler focus on the current United States political agendas and attempt to unravel how and why this country has developed as it has.

The thing that I liked best about this text is that it reads more like a novel than a textbook. It explains United States politics in an engaging way that forces the reader to react. Dye and Zeigler support that America is an elitist nation, and back up their argument with an analysis of government structure (primary elections, electoral college, what it takes to REALLY make it into Congress) and interaction between governmental branches and the American public (through political action committees, interest groups, and the media). Also interesting are the facts presented on similarities between political parties as an effort to reach the "middle ground."

If your instructor recommends this book, expect a class that will take you far beyond the nuts and bolts of American politics; expect to make your own conclusions on what may make the United States a stronger nation, why you should challenge the system from time to time, and actually learn WHY and HOW politics work the way that they do. The class you take may end up requiring more thought or effort on your part if this is one of the required readings, but you will come out of the class more informed, wary, and enlightened about what really governs our actions and thoughts as masses.

13 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Non-Voters Like Me Are Good for the Country!, February 3, 2003

By 

mwreview "mwreview" (Northern California, USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Irony of Democracy: An Uncommon Introduction to American Politics (Paperback)

I read this book for an introductory political science course in junior college and I enjoyed it so much that, although I was not planning to be a political science major, I decided not to sell this book back to the college. This textbook is a thorough , well-written, and well-organized study of the basics of American democracy (or republicanism, if you will). The authors are brutally honest in their overview of the American democratic system. The irony of democracy?: "Elites-not masses-govern the United States" and, my favorite, "that democratic ideals survive because the masses are generally apathetic and inactive" (the masses breed intolerance, you see). Among the fifteen chapters is one entitled "Elite-Mass Communication: Television, the Press, and the Pollsters," which I found to be very interesting.

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Republicans Read..., October 11, 2005

By 

Ryan P. Stiner "Liberalist" (Irvine, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Irony of Democracy: An Uncommon Introduction to American Politics (Paperback)

Tearing through the apathetic and thoughtless reviews throughout this page prompted me to commnt on them. I read this book in one day and coming from a semi-wealthy household of 5 I appreciate how the author is truly brutally honest. The problems with our government revolve around the greedy, elitist conservatives who only wish to gain power in office to ensure a financially secure future. As for the true public discourse, this book not only outlines what the democratic rhetoric is but how it better serves for a basis of all injustices throughout the government. If you like Al Franken, you will surely love this book, filled with rich, semi-didactic information about our ailing country.