Living democracy, 2016 presidential election

If this book found its way to your hands, this is probably not new information. In the United States, democratic insecurity may seem rather sudden, with the presidential election of Donald Trump in , an outsider candidate with weak commitments to liberal democratic norms, uncomfortable admiration for authoritarian strongmen, a toxic mix of xenophobic and racial politics, and little deference to the Constitution.

This view culminates in the violent, January 6, insurrection, where Trump supporters broke into the U. Capitol building to disrupt the certification of Electoral College votes confirming Joe Biden the successful and legitimate winner of the Presidential Election. For others, and everything that followed only laid bare the fragility of American democratic institutions, preserving counter-majoritarian institutions and exposed by gerrymandering practices and decades of voting suppression.

From either perspective, ordinary Americans are confronting an unprecedented crisis of democracy. This crisis is both sudden and systemic, and not easily resolved by changing Presidents" The state of political discourse in the United States today has been a subject of concern for many Americans.

Political incivility is not merely a problem for political elites; political conversations between American citizens have also become more difficult and tense. The presidential elections featured campaign rhetoric designed to inflame the general public. Yet the election was certainly not the only cause of incivility among citizens. There have been many instances in recent years where reasoned discourse in our universities and other public venues has been threatened.

This book was undertaken as a response to these problems. It presents and develops a more robust discussion of what civility is, why it matters, what factors might contribute to it, and what its consequences are for democratic life. The authors included here pursue three major questions: Is the state of American political discourse today really that bad, compared to prior eras; what lessons about civility can we draw from the election; and how have changes in technology such as the development of online news and other means of mediated communication changed the nature of our discourse?

This book seeks to develop a coherent, civil conversation between divergent contemporary perspectives in political science, communications, history, sociology, and philosophy. This multidisciplinary approach helps to reflect on challenges to civil discourse, define civility, and identify its consequences for democratic life in a digital age. In this accessible text, an all-star cast of contributors tills the earth in which future discussion on civility will be planted.

There is colossal concentration of power in the Presidency. Congress is crippled by partisanship and hostage to special interest money. The Supreme Court and many lower federal courts are riven by politics.

With decades at the top in government, law, and business, Joseph A. Califano, Jr. Using revealing anecdotes featuring every modern president and actions of both parties, he makes the urgent case that while we do not need to agree on all aspects of politics, we do need to trust each other and be worthy of that trust.

He shows how, as engaged citizens, we can bring back systems of government that promote fairness and protect our freedom. One of the most far-reaching transformations in our era is the wave of digital technologies rolling over—and upending—nearly every aspect of life.

Work and leisure, family and friendship, community and citizenship have all been modified by now-ubiquitous digital tools and platforms. Digital Technology and Democratic Theory looks closely at one significant facet of our rapidly evolving digital lives: how technology is radically changing our lives as citizens and participants in democratic governments.

To understand these transformations, this book brings together contributions by scholars from multiple disciplines to wrestle with the question of how digital technologies shape, reshape, and affect fundamental questions about democracy and democratic theory.

As expectations have whiplashed—from Twitter optimism in the wake of the Arab Spring to Facebook pessimism in the wake of the US election—the time is ripe for a more sober and long-term assessment. How should we take stock of digital technologies and their promise and peril for reshaping democratic societies and institutions? To answer, this volume broaches the most pressing technological changes and issues facing democracy as a philosophy and an institution.

Media bias has been a hot-button issue for several decades and it features prominently in the post political conversation. Yet, it receives only spotty treatment in existing materials aimed at political communication or introductory American politics courses. Evaluating Media Bias is a brief, supplemental resource that provides an academically informed but broadly accessible overview of the major concepts and controversies involving media bias.

Adam Schiffer explores the contours of the partisan-bias debate before pivoting to real biases: the patterns, constraints, and shortcomings plaguing American political news. Media bias is more relevant than ever in the aftermath of the presidential election, which launched a flurry of media criticism from scholars, commentators, and thoughtful news professionals.

Engaging and informative, this text reviews what we know about media bias, offers timely case studies as illustration, and introduces an original framework for unifying diverse conversations about this topic that is the subject of so much ire in our country.

Evaluating Media Bias allows students of American politics, and politically aware citizens alike, the means of detecting and evaluating bias for themselves, and thus join the national conversation about the state of American news media. Globalization has reconfigured both the external institutional framework and the intrinsic operating mechanisms of capitalism.

The global triumph of capitalism implies the embracing of the market by the state in all its variants, and that global capitalism is not confined to the shell of nation-state democracy. Guoguang Wu provides a theoretical framework of global capitalism for specialists in political economy, political science, economics and international relations, for graduate and undergraduate courses on globalization, capitalism, development and democracy, as well as for the public who are interested in globalization.

Wu examines the new institutional features of global capitalism and how they reframe movements of capital, labour and consumption. He explores how globalization has created a chain of connection in which capital depends on effective authoritarianism, while democracy depends on capital. Ultimately, he argues that the emerging state-market nexus has fundamentally shaken the existing institutional systems, harming democracy in the process.

This book examines the disruptive nature of Trump news — both the news his administration makes and the coverage of it — related to dominant paradigms and ideologies of U. By relying on conceptualizations of media memory and "othering" through news coverage that enhances socio-conservative positions on issues such as immigration, the book positions this moment in a time of contestation.

The outcomes should resonate with citizens who rely on journalism for civic engagement and who are active in social change. A Book by Daniel M. Each semester, the authors update their Current Event Bulletins with either new or revised articles to ensure that your students have relevant examples to help them engage with the course. Dynamic content designed for the way today's students read, think, and learn brings concepts to life Integrated within the narrative, interactive content empowers students to engage with concepts and take an active role in learning.

Revel's unique presentation of media as an intrinsic part of course content brings the hallmark features of Pearson's bestselling titles to life. Revel's media interactives have been designed to be completed quickly, and its videos are brief, so students stay focused and on task. Videos vividly illustrate key moments in American government.

News footage provides examples from both historical and current events, from pinnacle civil rights demonstrations and hallmark presidential speeches to extensive coverage of the election and the issues that resonate with students today like climate change and new media. Through a visual storytelling approach, Sketchnote videos cater to visual and audio learners, but also engage all students by helping bring concepts to life.

Current Events Bulletins at the beginning and end of each chapter feature author-written articles, refreshed twice a year, that put breaking news and current events into the context of American government. The end-of-chapter bulletins, new to the Presidential Election Edition, lay out two sides of a hot-topic debate and encourage students to develop their own informed opinions.

Interactive figures and maps feature Social Explorer technology that allows updates with the latest data, toggles to illustrate movement over time, and clickable hot spots with pop-ups of images and captions. Interactive timelines in each chapter allow students to explore important events and the development of key issues in American political history.

Polls encourage students to explore their own views on important political issues and often compare their opinions to similar national polling results.

Located throughout Revel, quizzing affords students opportunities to check their understanding at regular intervals before moving on. The Revel mobile app lets students read, practice, and study — anywhere, anytime, on any device.

Content is available both online and offline, and the app syncs work across all registered devices automatically, giving students great flexibility to toggle between phone, tablet, and laptop as they move through their day. The app also lets students set assignment notifications to stay on top of all due dates.

Self-paced Journaling Prompts throughout the narrative encourage students to express their thoughts without breaking stride in their reading. And assignable Shared Writing Activities direct students to share written responses with classmates, fostering peer discussion. Highlighting, note taking, and a glossary let students read and study however they like. Educators can add notes for students, too, including reminders or study tips. Coverage of recent events and updated data ensures an up-to-date learning experience NEW!

Content updates throughout the Presidential Election Edition keep the text current, focusing on key events and developments in American government and politics over the last two years, including: The results of the historic election; The most recent key Supreme Court decisions; The impact of social media on public opinion and political action; The lack of diversity in the news media and the concern over media bias; and Key global issues, including the Syrian Civil War, ISIS, a more aggressive Russia, and a more assertive China.

In order to keep the material current, the authors present updated stories and anecdotes about how average citizens — both in the United States and abroad — confront politics, respond, and make a difference.

Updated photos throughout this edition serve several important purposes. They capture major events from the last few years, of course. All of the figures and tables included throughout the text have been updated to reflect the latest available data.

The authors posit that democratic politics filters down into five pathways of change: the court process, elections, lobbying, grassroots activism, and cultural change. This framework is introduced early in the text and used throughout every chapter to untangle key concepts and thus aid student learning. Consistent with effective, research-based pedagogy, the authors present course material using a scaffolding process where new information builds on an established foundation of knowledge.

For easy reference, learning objectives and key terms are repeated at the end of each chapter. An end-of-book glossary serves as a compendium of all key terms referenced throughout the text. Pathways of Action sections illustrate how citizens — often average citizens — have made key changes in the system. At times these changes have been very broad, but in other instances, they have been much more localized.

This clear, detailed schedule helps students stay on task by eliminating any ambiguity as to which material will be covered during each class. When they understand exactly what is expected of them, students are better motivated to keep up. Actionable information, such as points earned on quizzes and tests and time on task, helps educators intersect with their students in meaningful ways. For example, the trending column reveals whether students' grades are improving or declining, helping educators to identify students who might need help to stay on track.

Flexible, on-demand grade synchronization capabilities allow educators to control exactly which Revel grades should be transferred to the Blackboard Gradebook. Print-on-demand functionality after purchase gives students an extra level of support Revel was designed to give students everything they need, all in one integrated digital learning environment.

But if students wish to order a print version of their Revel program , they can do so from directly within Revel after purchase for a small fee at any time during the course. We offer this option in order to facilitate successful learning outcomes for students with varied learning styles. New to This Edition. Coverage of recent events and updated data ensures an up-to-date learning experience In order to keep the material current, the authors present updated stories and anecdotes about how average citizens — both in the United States and abroad — confront politics, respond, and make a difference.

Content updates throughout the Presidential Election Edition keep the text current, focusing on key events and developments in American government and politics over the last two years. In light of so many significant recent developments in our politics, can citizens still make a difference?

Chapter 3 highlights the latest trends in federalism, including the controversies surrounding Medicaid expansion, Supreme Court decisions regarding same-sex marriage, contraception, health care exchanges and other issues relating to the Affordable Care Act. Chapter 4 illuminates civil liberties issues through coverage of the most important recent court decisions including: the Supreme Court declining to examine municipal restrictions on ownership of assault weapons Friedman v.

Highland Park, ; use of evidence against a driver who had broken no laws but was wrongly stopped by a police officer who misunderstood state traffic laws Heien v. California, Hodges Chapter 6 provides new material that allows readers to better appreciate the breadth and consequence of polarization in Congress and how the prospects of continued gridlock will be shaped by the results of the election.

Chapter 8 illustrates problems involving the federal bureaucracy through coverage of contemporary controversies about care at Veterans Administration hospitals and efforts to push the Department of Education to protect student loan borrowers against unfair practices.

Chapter 9 covers the political deadlock over the nomination of Judge Merrick Garland for a seat on the Supreme Court to replace the late Justice Antonin Scalia, illustrating the efforts of presidents, senators, and political parties to shape the composition of the judiciary because of its importance in creating law and policy.

Chapter 10 includes a new section on the impact of social media on public opinion and political action, as well as an expanded section on religion and party identification and public opinion, noting changes over time as well as contemporary dynamics. Chapter 11 has been significantly updated to include far more information about the lack of diversity in the news media and the concern over media bias. A new section on digital-first news media is included as well as data comparing public support for a vigorous and free press in the United States and other countries around the world.

Chapter 12 offers a new section on online activism, with special attention paid to examining whether or not online activism helps engagement or provides the illusion of being involved without the necessary commitment of time and energy.

All data in the chapter has been updated, with new information about Super PACs and nonprofit election spending. Chapter 13 includes a new discussion of the legitimacy of the presidential nomination process, a topic brought to light by the candidacies of Donald Trump and Bernie Sanders. How did the Republicans maintain control of both the House and Senate?