[0300228929] [9780300228922] Anti-Pluralism: The Populist Threat to Liberal Democracy (Politics and Culture) 1st Edition-Hardcover

The Great Recession, Institutional Dysfunction, A Growing Divide Between Urban And Rural Prospects, And Failed Efforts To Effectively Address Immigration Have Paved The Way For A Populist Backlash That Disrupts The Postwar Bargain Between Political Elites And Citizens. Whether Today's Populism Represents A Corrective To Unfair And Obsolete Policies Or A Threat To Liberal Democracy Itself Remains Up For Debate. Yet This Much Is Clear: These Challenges Indict The Triumphalism That Accompanied Liberal Democratic Consolidation After The Collapse Of The Soviet Union. To Respond To Today's Crisis, Good Leaders Must Strive For Inclusive Economic Growth While Addressing Fraught Social And Cultural Issues, Including Demographic Anxiety, With Frank Attention. Although Reforms May Stem The Populist Tide, Liberal Democratic Life Will Always Leave Some Citizens Unsatisfied. This Is A Permanent Source Of Vulnerability, But Liberal Democracy Will Endure So Long As Citizens Believe It Is Worth Fighting For. William A. Galston ; Forword By James Davison Hunter And John M. Owen. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "The Great Recession, institutional dysfunction, a growing divide between urban and rural prospects, and failed efforts to effectively address immigration have paved the way for a populist backlash that disrupts the postwar bargain between political elites and citizens. Whether today's populism represents a corrective to unfair and obsolete policies or a threat to liberal democracy itself remains up for debate. Yet this much is clear: these challenges indict the triumphalism that accompanied liberal democratic consolidation after the collapse of the Soviet Union. To respond to today's crisis, good leaders must strive for inclusive economic growth while addressing fraught social and cultural issues, including demographic anxiety, with frank attention. Although reforms may stem the populist tide, liberal democratic life will always leave some citizens unsatisfied. This is a permanent source of vulnerability, but liberal democracy will endure so long as citizens believe it is worth fighting for."--Dust jacket The Great Recession, institutional dysfunction, a growing divide between urban and rural prospects, and failed efforts to effectively address immigration have paved the way for a populist backlash that disrupts the postwar bargain between political elites and citizens. Whether today’s populism represents a corrective to unfair and obsolete policies or a threat to liberal democracy itself remains up for debate. Yet this much is clear: these challenges indict the triumphalism that accompanied liberal democratic consolidation after the collapse of the Soviet Union. To respond to today’s crisis, good leaders must strive for inclusive economic growth while addressing fraught social and cultural issues, including demographic anxiety, with frank attention. Although reforms may stem the populist tide, liberal democratic life will always leave some citizens unsatisfied. This is a permanent source of vulnerability, but liberal democracy will endure so long as citizens believe it is worth fighting for. Cover......Page 1 Title Page......Page 3 Copyright Page......Page 4 Dedication......Page 5 Contents......Page 6 Foreword......Page 8 Acknowledgments......Page 10 INTRODUCTION: Challenges to Liberal Democracy......Page 12 ONE: Democratic Erosion and Political Convergence......Page 17 TWO: Liberal Democracy in Theory......Page 26 THREE: The Populist Challenge......Page 37 FOUR: The European Project and Its Enemies: (with Clara J. Hendrickson)......Page 43 FIVE: Is Democracy at Risk in the United States?......Page 60 SIX: Liberal Democracy in America: What Is to Be Done?......Page 74 SEVEN: Democratic Leadership......Page 90 EIGHT: The Incompleteness of Liberal Democracy......Page 105 Notes......Page 113 Index......Page 128 Cover -- Half Title -- Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- Foreword by James Davison Hunter and John M. Owen IV -- Acknowledgments -- INTRODUCTION Challenges to Liberal Democracy -- ONE Democratic Erosion and Political Convergence -- TWO Liberal Democracy in Theory -- THREE The Populist Challenge -- FOUR The European Project and Its Enemies (with Clara J. Hendrickson) -- FIVE Is Democracy at Risk in the United States? -- SIX Liberal Democracy in America What Is to Be Done? -- SEVEN Democratic Leadership -- EIGHT The Incompleteness of Liberal Democracy -- Notes -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- H -- I -- J -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- R -- S -- T -- U -- V -- W -- X -- Y Present-day challenges to liberal democracy call on leaders to make growth more inclusive, address fraught social and cultural issues frankly, and manage the tensions of political life