The Decline and Rise of Democracy

The Decline and Rise of Democracy
Author :
Publisher : Princeton University Press
Total Pages : 424
Release :
ISBN-10 : 9780691201955
ISBN-13 : 0691201951
Rating : 4/5 (951 Downloads)

Book Synopsis The Decline and Rise of Democracy by : David Stasavage

Download or read book The Decline and Rise of Democracy written by David Stasavage and published by Princeton University Press. This book was released on 2020-06-02 with total page 424 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "One of the most important books on political regimes written in a generation."—Steven Levitsky, New York Times–bestselling author of How Democracies Die A new understanding of how and why early democracy took hold, how modern democracy evolved, and what this history teaches us about the future Historical accounts of democracy’s rise tend to focus on ancient Greece and pre-Renaissance Europe. The Decline and Rise of Democracy draws from global evidence to show that the story is much richer—democratic practices were present in many places, at many other times, from the Americas before European conquest, to ancient Mesopotamia, to precolonial Africa. Delving into the prevalence of early democracy throughout the world, David Stasavage makes the case that understanding how and where these democracies flourished—and when and why they declined—can provide crucial information not just about the history of governance, but also about the ways modern democracies work and where they could manifest in the future. Drawing from examples spanning several millennia, Stasavage first considers why states developed either democratic or autocratic styles of governance and argues that early democracy tended to develop in small places with a weak state and, counterintuitively, simple technologies. When central state institutions (such as a tax bureaucracy) were absent—as in medieval Europe—rulers needed consent from their populace to govern. When central institutions were strong—as in China or the Middle East—consent was less necessary and autocracy more likely. He then explores the transition from early to modern democracy, which first took shape in England and then the United States, illustrating that modern democracy arose as an effort to combine popular control with a strong state over a large territory. Democracy has been an experiment that has unfolded over time and across the world—and its transformation is ongoing. Amidst rising democratic anxieties, The Decline and Rise of Democracy widens the historical lens on the growth of political institutions and offers surprising lessons for all who care about governance.


The Decline and Rise of Democracy Related Books

The Decline and Rise of Democracy
Language: en
Pages: 424
Authors: David Stasavage
Categories: Political Science
Type: BOOK - Published: 2020-06-02 - Publisher: Princeton University Press

GET EBOOK

"One of the most important books on political regimes written in a generation."—Steven Levitsky, New York Times–bestselling author of How Democracies Die A
Democracy in Hard Places
Language: en
Pages: 337
Authors:
Categories: Political Science
Type: BOOK - Published: 2022-07-22 - Publisher: Oxford University Press

GET EBOOK

The last fifteen years have witnessed a "democratic recession." Democracies previously thought to be well-established--Hungary, Poland, Brazil, and even the Uni
Democracy
Language: en
Pages: 403
Authors: Condoleezza Y Rice
Categories: Political Science
Type: BOOK - Published: 2017-07-11 - Publisher: Hachette+ORM

GET EBOOK

From the former secretary of state and bestselling author -- a sweeping look at the global struggle for democracy and why America must continue to support the c
Wars, Guns, and Votes
Language: en
Pages: 344
Authors: Paul Collier
Categories: History
Type: BOOK - Published: 2009-01-23 - Publisher: Harper Collins

GET EBOOK

“Collier has made a substantial contribution to current discussions. His evidence-based approach is a worthwhile corrective to the assumptions about democracy
The Best Democracy Money Can Buy
Language: en
Pages: 407
Authors: Greg Palast
Categories: Political Science
Type: BOOK - Published: 2003-02-25 - Publisher: Penguin

GET EBOOK

"Palast is astonishing, he gets the real evidence no one else has the guts to dig up." Vincent Bugliosi, author of None Dare Call it Treason and Helter Skelter