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Stealth Democracy John R. Hibbing (University of Nebraska, Lincoln)

Stealth Democracy By John R. Hibbing (University of Nebraska, Lincoln)

Summary

Stealth Democracy examines how people want their democratic government to work. Americans don't like many of the practices associated with democracy - conflict, debates, compromises. If they had their way, political decisions would be made by unselfish decision makers because people would be free from having to monitor government.

Stealth Democracy Summary

Stealth Democracy: Americans' Beliefs About How Government Should Work by John R. Hibbing (University of Nebraska, Lincoln)

Americans often complain about the operation of their government, but scholars have never developed a complete picture of people's preferred type of government. In this provocative and timely book, Hibbing and Theiss-Morse, employing an original national survey and focus groups, report the governmental procedures Americans desire. Contrary to the prevailing view that people want greater involvement in politics, most citizens do not care about most policies and therefore are content to turn over decision-making authority to someone else. People's wish for the political system is that decision makers be empathetic and, especially, non-self-interested, not that they be responsive and accountable to the people's largely nonexistent policy preferences or, even worse, that the people be obligated to participate directly in decision making. Hibbing and Theiss-Morse conclude by cautioning communitarians, direct democrats, social capitalists, deliberation theorists, and all those who think that greater citizen involvement is the solution to society's problems.

Stealth Democracy Reviews

"A compelling challenge to the prominent view that government participation leads to better government." The Futurist
"This wonderfully provocative book uses survey data and interviews to support hypotheses that run against the conventional scholarly wisdom about what is wrong with the US political system.... This excellent contribution to the sociological and political science literature on participation is written in a clear, occasionally witty, and understandable prose that all will appreciate. Essential." Choice

Table of Contents

Part I. The Benefits of Studying the Processes People Want: 1. Policy space and American politics; 2. Process space: an introduction; 3. Using process space to explain features of American politics; Part II. The Processes People Want: 4. Attitudes toward specific processes; 5. Public assessments of people and politicians; 6. Americans' desire for stealth democracy; Part III. Should People Be Given the Processes They Want?: 7. Popular deliberation and group involvement in theory; 8. The realities of popular deliberation and group involvement; 9. Improving government and people's attitudes toward it.

Additional information

CIN0521009863G
9780521009867
0521009863
Stealth Democracy: Americans' Beliefs About How Government Should Work by John R. Hibbing (University of Nebraska, Lincoln)
Used - Good
Paperback
Cambridge University Press
2002-08-29
304
N/A
Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary.
This is a used book - there is no escaping the fact it has been read by someone else and it will show signs of wear and previous use. Overall we expect it to be in good condition, but if you are not entirely satisfied please get in touch with us

Customer Reviews - Stealth Democracy