John B. Judis Books
John B. Judis is an American journalist and author known for his political analysis and commentary.
Known for: The Paradox of American Democracy: Elites, Special Interests, and the Betrayal of Public Trust
Books by John B. Judis
The Paradox of American Democracy: Elites, Special Interests, and the Betrayal of Public Trust
In this incisive work, John B. Judis explores the tension between democratic ideals and the influence of elites and special interests in the United States. He argues that American democracy has always contained a paradox: while it promises equality and popular sovereignty, it has been continually shaped and constrained by powerful groups that manipulate institutions and public opinion to serve their own ends. Through historical analysis and political critique, Judis traces how this dynamic has evolved from the founding era to the modern age, revealing how the erosion of public trust threatens the very foundations of democratic governance.
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Historical Foundations
The paradox of American democracy did not appear suddenly; it is encoded in the founding itself. When the framers gathered in Philadelphia, they held two convictions in tension — the necessity of popular consent and the dread of popular passions. Men like James Madison and Alexander Hamilton envisio...
From The Paradox of American Democracy: Elites, Special Interests, and the Betrayal of Public Trust
The Rise of Political Parties
If the Constitution planted the seeds of elite control, the rise of political parties watered them. By the early nineteenth century, Americans were learning that democracy required mediation. The Federalists and Jeffersonian Republicans were not simply competing factions; they were mechanisms by whi...
From The Paradox of American Democracy: Elites, Special Interests, and the Betrayal of Public Trust
About John B. Judis
John B. Judis is an American journalist and author known for his political analysis and commentary. He has written for publications such as The New Republic and The Washington Post, and authored several influential books on American politics and ideology.
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John B. Judis is an American journalist and author known for his political analysis and commentary.
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