کتابچهٔ دموگوگ: نبرد برای دموکراسی آمریکایی از بنیان‌گذاران تا ترامپ

A new history of the war demagogues have waged throughout American history, from the Founders to Trump As President, Donald Trump has made a habit of undermining democratic institutions. He constantly attacks the free press as fake news. He questions the legitimacy of his own intelligence agencies when they contradict his own public statements. Despite numerous reports of foreign interference in U.S. elections, his own government refuses to take any action. And his rhetoric, replete with insults and falsehoods, serves to excite a particular segment of the electorate while alienating others. While his adversaries find his administration appalling, those who support him argue he is doing exactly what they elected him to do: Bully our enemies and return America to some mythical great past. From distancing ourselves from international trade agreements to inviting family members to the inner sanctum of White House decision making to sticking tariffs on any country unwilling to concede to Trump's demands, the President is an example of a paradox: Someone unwilling to operate under the guidelines of democratic norms while remaining popular among his base. Is this the new normal? As Eric Posner provocatively explores in The Demagogue's Playbook , Trump falls within a tradition of American political leaders and personalities who have used the language of exploitation and grievance to amass power. And, in many cases, were quite popular in their time. From Andrew Jackson to Father Charlies Coughlin, the viscously anti-semetic radio personality of the early 20th century, these demagogues attacked what they perceived as "enemies of the people": the elites, the journalists, the policy-makers, and the institutional norms of our republican system. On the surface, this defense of the "common people" feels oddly noble. But, as Posner shows, this defense is an emperor with no clothes. Rather than protect, the demagogue uses everyday people--and invents their enemies--to undermine, ultimately, their self-interest. Posner exposes how we must move past the demagogue's rhetoric and protect the features of a democracy that help it thrive: a free press, a group of experts who oversee the various agencies tasked with improving American lives, and the checks and balances that pose restrictions on public office. Only under such norms can a democracy survive. In short, can a democracy thrive under a demagogue? Posner finds no reason to believe so, and if we refuse to understand why, Trump may be the first of several future demagogues elected President.

A New York Times Book Review Editor's Pick

What Happens to Democracy When a Demagogue Comes to Power?

"It is hard to imagine understanding the Trump presidency and its significance without reading this book.”
—Bob Bauer, Former Chief Counsel to President Barack Obama

What—and who—is a demagogue? How did America’s Founders envision the presidency? What should a constitutional democracy look like—and how can it be fixed when it appears to be broken?

Something is definitely wrong with Donald Trump’s presidency, but what exactly? The extraordinary negative reaction to Trump’s election—by conservative intellectuals, liberals, Democrats, and global leaders alike—goes beyond ordinary partisan and policy disagreements. It reflects genuine fear about the vitality of our constitutional system. The Founders, reaching back to classical precedents, feared that their experiment in mass self-government could produce a demagogue: a charismatic ruler who would gain and hold on to power by manipulating the public rather than by advancing the public good.

President Trump, who has played to the mob and attacked institutions from the judiciary to the press, appears to embody these ideas. How can we move past his rhetoric and maintain faith in our great nation?

In The Demagogue’s Playbook, acclaimed legal scholar Eric A. Posner offers a blueprint for how America can prevent the rise of another demagogue and protect the features of a democracy that help it thrive—and restore national greatness, for one and all.

“Cuts through the hyperbole and hysteria that often distorts assessments of our republic, particularly at this time.” —Alan Taylor, winner of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for History

A New York Times Book Review Editor's Pick What Happens to Democracy When a Demagogue Comes to Power? "It is hard to imagine understanding the Trump presidency and its significance without reading this book." —Bob Bauer, Former Chief Counsel to President Barack Obama What—and who—is a demagogue? How did America's Founders envision the presidency? What should a constitutional democracy look like—and how can it be fixed when it appears to be broken? Something is definitely wrong with Donald Trump's presidency, but what exactly? The extraordinary negative reaction to Trump's election—by conservative intellectuals, liberals, Democrats, and global leaders alike—goes beyond ordinary partisan and policy disagreements. It reflects genuine fear about the vitality of our constitutional system. The Founders, reaching back to classical precedents, feared that their experiment in mass self-government could produce a demagogue: a charismatic ruler who would gain and hold on to power by manipulating the public rather than by advancing the public good. President Trump, who has played to the mob and attacked institutions from the judiciary to the press, appears to embody these ideas. How can we move past his rhetoric and maintain faith in our great nation? In The Demagogue's Playbook , acclaimed legal scholar Eric A. Posner offers a blueprint for how America can prevent the rise of another demagogue and protect the features of a democracy that help it thrive—and restore national greatness, for one and all. "Cuts through the hyperbole and hysteria that often distorts assessments of our republic, particularly at this time." — Alan Taylor, winner of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for History In The Demagogue’s Playbook, Acclaimed Legal Scholar Eric A. Posner Offers A Blueprint For How America Can Prevent The Rise Of A Demagogue And Protect The Features Of A Democracy That Help It Thrive—and Restore National Greatness, For One And All. It Is Hard To Imagine Understanding The Trump Presidency And Its Significance Without Reading This Book.” —bob Bauer, Former Chief Counsel To President Barack Obama What—and Who—is A Demagogue? How Did America’s Founders Envision The Presidency? What Should A Constitutional Democracy Look Like—and How Can It Be Fixed When It Appears To Be Broken? Something Is Definitely Wrong With Donald Trump’s Presidency, But What Exactly? The Extraordinary Negative Reaction To Trump’s Election—by Conservative Intellectuals, Liberals, Democrats, And Global Leaders Alike—goes Beyond Ordinary Partisan And Policy Disagreements. It Reflects Genuine Fear About The Vitality Of Our Constitutional System. The Founders, Reaching Back To Classical Precedents, Feared That Their Experiment In Mass Self-government Could Produce A Demagogue: A Charismatic Ruler Who Would Gain And Hold On To Power By Manipulating The Public Rather Than By Advancing The Public Good. President Trump, Who Has Played To The Mob And Attacked Institutions From The Judiciary To The Press, Appears To Embody These Ideas. How Can We Move Past His Rhetoric And Maintain Faith In Our Great Nation? “cuts Through The Hyperbole And Hysteria That Often Distorts Assessments Of Our Republic, Particularly At This Time.” —alan Taylor, Winner Of The 2014 Pulitzer Prize For History "Cuts through the hyperbole and hysteria that often distorts assessments of our republic, particularly at this time." - Alan Taylor, winner of the 2014 Pulitzer Prize for History What-and who-is a demagogue? How did America's Founders envision the presidency? What should a constitutional democracy look like-and how can it be fixed when it appears to be broken? Something is definitely wrong with Donald Trump's presidency, but what exactly? The extraordinary negative reaction to Trump's election-by conservative intellectuals, liberals, Democrats, and global leaders alike-goes beyond ordinary partisan and policy disagreements. It reflects genuine fear about the vitality of our constitutional system. The Founders, reaching back to classical precedents, feared that their experiment in mass self-government could produce a demagogue: a charismatic ruler who would gain and hold on to power by manipulating the public rather than by advancing the public good. President Trump, who has played to the mob and attacked institutions from the judiciary to the press, appears to embody these ideas. How can we move past his rhetoric and maintain faith in our great nation? In The Demagogue's Playbook, acclaimed legal scholar Eric Posner offers a blueprint for how America can prevent the rise of a demagogue and protect the features of a democracy that help it thrive-and restore national greatness, for one and all"-- Provided by publisher