Ordinary People in Extraordinary Times: The Citizenry and the Breakdown of Democ

Description: FREE SHIPPING UK WIDE Ordinary People in Extraordinary Times by Nancy G. Bermeo Offers lessons about civil society and regime change - and about the paths to democratic consolidation. This book shows that the German experience was exceptional, and that what is often labeled polarization is the result of such factors as expansion of the franchise, elite defections, and the mobilization of new voters. FORMAT Paperback LANGUAGE English CONDITION Brand New Publisher Description For generations, influential thinkers--often citing the tragic polarization that took place during Germanys Great Depression--have suspected that peoples loyalty to democratic institutions erodes under pressure and that citizens gravitate toward antidemocratic extremes in times of political and economic crisis. But do people really defect from democracy when times get tough? Do ordinary people play a leading role in the collapse of popular government? Based on extensive research, this book overturns the common wisdom. It shows that the German experience was exceptional, that peoples affinity for particular political positions are surprisingly stable, and that what is often labeled polarization is the result not of vote switching but of such factors as expansion of the franchise, elite defections, and the mobilization of new voters. Democratic collapses are caused less by changes in popular preferences than by the actions of political elites who polarize themselves and mistake the actions of a few for the preferences of the many.These conclusions are drawn from the study of twenty cases, including every democracy that collapsed in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution in interwar Europe, every South American democracy that fell to the Right after the Cuban Revolution, and three democracies that avoided breakdown despite serious economic and political challenges. Unique in its historical and regional scope, this book offers unsettling but important lessons about civil society and regime change--and about the paths to democratic consolidation today. Notes Comparative politics needs more books like this. I am extremely impressed by Bermeos great command of the literature, her ability to simultaneously engage the reader in the commonalties and specificities of her cases, and the sustained and convincing argument she advances. Her book will force a major reconceptualization of what voter polarization means. -- Alfred Stepan, Columbia University Lucid and compelling, this book will change the way in which comparative politics conceives of the polarization of politics associated with the failure of democracy. It will be an enduring contribution. -- Michael Bernhard, Pennsylvania State University Back Cover "Comparative politics needs more books like this. I am extremely impressed by Bermeos great command of the literature, her ability to simultaneously engage the reader in the commonalties and specificities of her cases, and the sustained and convincing argument she advances. Her book will force a major reconceptualization of what voter polarization means." --Alfred Stepan, Columbia University "Lucid and compelling, this book will change the way in which comparative politics conceives of the polarization of politics associated with the failure of democracy. It will be an enduring contribution." --Michael Bernhard, Pennsylvania State University Author Biography Nancy Bermeo is Professor of Political Science at Princeton University. She is the author of Revolution Within a Revolution (Princeton) and a senior editor of World Politics. Table of Contents LIST OF FIGURES ix LIST OF TABLES xi PART I: OUR LITERATURE AND INTERWAR EUROPE 1 CHAPTER 1 Heroes or Villains? Images of Citizens and Civil Society in the Literature on Democracy 7 CHAPTER 2 Ordinary People and the Breakdown of Democracy in Interwar Europe 21 PART II: SOUTH AMERICA AND OUR LITERATURE REVISED 65 CHAPTER 3 The Reluctant Coup in Brazil 69 CHAPTER 4 The Slow-Motion Coup in Uruguay 100 CHAPTER 5 The Tragedy of Democracy in Chile 138 CHAPTER 6 The Violent Death of Democracy in Argentina 177 CHAPTER 7 Polarization and the Ignorance of Elites 221 INDEX 257 Review One of Choices Outstanding Academic Titles for 2005 Winner of the 2003 Best Book On Democratization "[An] outstanding contribution to theory and policy... Highly readable, informative, and intelligible."--Choice "This impressive and engaging book ... is an exemplary work of comparative politics. It is elegantly written, and contains innovative theoretical arguments, sound historical research, and broad compelling empirical comparisons."--Marc Morje Howard, Political Science Quarterly "Nancy Bermeos wide-ranging and scholarly study of seventeen modern democracies which have failed tracks the behavior of ordinary democratic citizens during the critical periods and makes the case that most of them remained loyal to the democratic process, even at the worst of times."--Ian Johnston, Humanist Perspectives Promotional Comparative politics needs more books like this. I am extremely impressed by Bermeos great command of the literature, her ability to simultaneously engage the reader in the commonalties and specificities of her cases, and the sustained and convincing argument she advances. Her book will force a major reconceptualization of what voter polarization means. -- Alfred Stepan, Columbia University Lucid and compelling, this book will change the way in which comparative politics conceives of the polarization of politics associated with the failure of democracy. It will be an enduring contribution. -- Michael Bernhard, Pennsylvania State University Prizes Winner of American Political Science Association Comparative Democratization Section Best Book Award 2004 Short-listed for Choice Magazine Outstanding Reference/Academic Book Award 2005 Long Description For generations, influential thinkers--often citing the tragic polarization that took place during Germanys Great Depression--have suspected that peoples loyalty to democratic institutions erodes under pressure and that citizens gravitate toward antidemocratic extremes in times of political and economic crisis. But do people really defect from democracy when times get tough? Do ordinary people play a leading role in the collapse of popular government? Based on extensive research, this book overturns the common wisdom. It shows that the German experience was exceptional, that peoples affinity for particular political positions are surprisingly stable, and that what is often labeled polarization is the result not of vote switching but of such factors as expansion of the franchise, elite defections, and the mobilization of new voters. Democratic collapses are caused less by changes in popular preferences than by the actions of political elites who polarize themselves and mistake the actions of a few for the preferences of the many.These conclusions are drawn from the study of twenty cases, including every democracy that collapsed in the aftermath of the Russian Revolution in interwar Europe, every South American democracy that fell to the Right after the Cuban Revolution, and three democracies that avoided breakdown despite serious economic and political challenges. Unique in its historical and regional scope, this book offers unsettling but important lessons about civil society and regime change--and about the paths to democratic consolidation today. Review Quote "Winner of the 2003 Best Book On Democratization" Details ISBN0691089701 Short Title ORDINARY PEOPLE IN EXTRAORDINA Publisher Princeton University Press Language English ISBN-10 0691089701 ISBN-13 9780691089706 Media Book Format Paperback Year 2003 Imprint Princeton University Press Subtitle The Citizenry and the Breakdown of Democracy Place of Publication New Jersey Country of Publication United States Translated from English DOI 10.1604/9780691089706 UK Release Date 2003-08-10 NZ Release Date 2003-08-10 US Release Date 2003-08-10 Author Nancy G. Bermeo Pages 288 Publication Date 2003-08-10 Alternative 9780691089690 DEWEY 321.8 Illustrations 17 line illus. 50 tables. Audience Professional & Vocational AU Release Date 2003-10-20 We've got this At The Nile, if you're looking for it, we've got it. 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