The path to paralysis : how American politics became nasty, dysfunctional, and a threat to the Republic / Donald G. Nieman

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Nieman, Donald G., Ph.D., author.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

United States--Politics and government--21st century.

United States.

United States--Politics and government--20th century.

Political science--United States.

Political science.

Democracy--United States.

Democracy.

Physical Description:

xxiii, 439 pages ; 22 cm

Place of Publication:

London ; New York, NY : Anthem Press, [2025]

Summary:

"How did the world's oldest democracy lose its mojo? How did we get to a point where we face existential crises like climate change yet leaders can't agree that there's a problem let alone develop solutions? Political leaders bear some of the responsibility. Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin and Donald Trump, to name a few, have shattered political norms and transformed our politics into a free-for-all in which personal attacks, appeals to bigotry and fear, disregard for truth, and disdain for governing have become the norm. But they are more a symptom than the cause. The Path to Paralysis examines changes in political culture during the past 60 years--conflict over race, religion and gender; wrenching economic changes and growing concentration of wealth; the end of the Cold War; hardening regional divisions; and dramatic changes in communications--that made Donald Trump possible, if not inevitable. Long in the making, these cross-currents came together in the early 21st century--as the United States experienced the deepest recession since the 1930s and elected its first Black president--to create the perfect storm. The result was toxic and deeply polarised politics that threatened the existence of constitutional government."-- Page 4 of cover.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 411-420) and index.

ISBN:

9781839992766

183999276X

OCLC:

1433128415

Publisher Number:

90100460656