Strengthening American Democracy

The world-wide trend toward ‘democratic deconsolidation,’ reflected in America through declining trust in government and rising authoritarian thinking, is rooted in extreme partisan polarization: fertile soil for anti-democratic ideas. This book aims to combat this disturbing trajectory, offering tools for a more responsive, accountable democracy. Many experts have observed a world-wide trend toward 'democratic deconsolidation,' reflected in America through declining trust in government at all levels and the rise of authoritarian thinking. The trend is rooted in extreme partisan polarization, which serves as fertile soil for the rise of anti-democratic movements and tendencies. This book aims to combat that disturbing trajectory, offering readers the tools to engage in and aspire toward a more responsive and accountable democracy. Its 46 brief and accessible articles outline a number of institutional, structural, process-oriented, and policy-related challenges to American democracy. In most cases, specific proposals for reform are discussed, encouraging the reader to think about how to make tangible progress towards a 'more perfect Union.'