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I really enjoyed the new @SuzanneMettler1 and @r_lieberman book, Four Threats.
I highly recommend it, for the following reaons. 1/ https://www.amazon.com/Four-Threats-Recurring-American-Democracy/dp/1250244420">https://www.amazon.com/Four-Thre...
I highly recommend it, for the following reaons. 1/ https://www.amazon.com/Four-Threats-Recurring-American-Democracy/dp/1250244420">https://www.amazon.com/Four-Thre...
First, it& #39;s not an anti-Trump polemic at all.
Instead, it& #39;s a very careful look at the structural conditions that put stress on democracies: polarization, fights over citizenry, economic inequality, and executive aggrandizement.
The framework is smart, and the analysis crisp.
Instead, it& #39;s a very careful look at the structural conditions that put stress on democracies: polarization, fights over citizenry, economic inequality, and executive aggrandizement.
The framework is smart, and the analysis crisp.
Second, it roots it& #39;s analysis in the context of American history. This is very satisfying. While we can (and have) learn(ed) a lot about the current stresses on our democracy from comparative work, the question of how much applies in a 230 year old stable system always remains.
By focusing on how the structural stresses played out at previous moments in U.S. history, Four Threats provides a really good sense feel for their role in current politics, and the potential dangers.
The book is definitely worried about the current moment, but I wouldn& #39;t describe it as alarmist. The analytical upshot is that the four stresses we& #39;ve seen in action in the past can all be found in modern politics, which presents significant structural danger.
Third, the historical sweep of the book provides a great sense of the recurring nature of these stresses throughout American history. That not only provides a good sense of the constancy of struggle in democracies, but also places our current moment as not a black/white divide.
Finally, the book is just really well laid out. It is organized in easy to follow fashion, lays out its argument clearlty, and doesn& #39;t succumb to academic jargon.
The various chapters on the 1790s, 1850, 1890s, 1930s, and 1970s are all interesting and compelling narrative reads. I particularly liked the chapter on the 1890s, the era I knew the least about.
Anyway, this is absolutely worth a look. Congrats to the authors.
