Democracy and Populism by John R Lukacs
This interesting and troubling book is the product of a lifetime of reflection and study of democracy. In it, John Lukacs addresses the questions of how democracy has changed and why we have become vulnerable to the shallowest possible demagoguery. Lukacs contrasts the political systems, movements and ideologies that have bedeviled the twentieth century: democracy, Liberalism, nationalism, fascism, Bolshevism, National Socialism, populism. Reflecting on American democracy, Lukacs describes its evolution from the eighteenth century to its current form - a dangerous and possibly irreversible populism. This involves, among other things, the predominance of popular sentiment over what used to be public opinion. This devolution has happened through the gigantic machinery of publicity, substituting propaganda - and entertainment - for knowledge and ideology, for a sense of history. It is a kind of populism that relies on nationalism and militarism to hold society together. Lukacs's observations are original, biting, timely, and are sure to inspire lively debate about the precarious state of American democracy today.
John Lukacs writes widely on American and European history. He is one of the world's great experts on Churchill and on Hitler.
| SKU | Unavailable |
| ISBN 13 | 9780300107739 |
| ISBN 10 | 0300107730 |
| Title | Democracy and Populism |
| Author | John R Lukacs |
| Condition | Unavailable |
| Binding Type | Hardback |
| Publisher | Yale University Press |
| Year published | 2005-03-08 |
| Number of pages | 272 |
| Cover note | Book picture is for illustrative purposes only, actual binding, cover or edition may vary. |
| Note | Unavailable |