A Critical Approach to Contemporary American Politics and Government

The American Myth of Democracy: A Crisis of Consciousness takes an elitist approach to the study of American government and politics. It begins with a brief historical introduction to the founding of the Republic, while offering students a glimpse at other comparative political systems, broadening their knowledge and thinking. The selection of material examines the promise of education in light of the continued destruction of basic civil liberties and...
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The American Myth of Democracy: A Crisis of Consciousness takes an elitist approach to the study of American government and politics. It begins with a brief historical introduction to the founding of the Republic, while offering students a glimpse at other comparative political systems, broadening their knowledge and thinking. The selection of material examines the promise of education in light of the continued destruction of basic civil liberties and democratic processes in the United States. The book aims to provoke students into thinking critically about what they know and to engage in reexamining conventional wisdoms, including the very definition of American democracy. Unlike a traditional American government text, this book will spark student interest, entice them to read, question, debate, and ultimately ignite their future intellectual curiosity.

Selections in The American Myth of Democracy are organized in seventeen topical chapters, including:

• Democracy and Education
• The US Constitution
• Ideology
• Political Parties
• Elections and Campaigns
• Public Opinion
• The Mass Media
• Civil Liberties and Civil Rights