The Path to Paralysis: How American Politics Became Nasty, Dysfunctional, and a Threat to the Republic

di Donald G. Nieman (Autore)

Anthem Press, 2024

How did the world’s oldest democracy lose its mojo? How did we get to a point where we face existential crises like climate change yet leaders can’t agree that there’s a problem let alone develop solutions? Political leaders bear some of the responsibility. Newt Gingrich, Sarah Palin and Donald Trump, to name a few, have shattered political norms and transformed our politics into a free-for-all in which personal attacks, appeals to bigotry and fear, disregard for truth, and disdain for governing have become the norm. But they are more a symptom than the cause. The Path to Paralysis examines changes in political culture during the past 60 years – conflict over race, religion and gender; wrenching economic changes and growing concentration of wealth; the end of the Cold War; hardening regional divisions; and dramatic changes in communications – that made Donald Trump possible, if not inevitable. Long in the making, these cross-currents came together in the early 21st century – as the United States experienced the deepest recession since the 1930s and elected its first Black president – to create the perfect storm. The result was toxic and deeply polarised politics that threatened the existence of constitutional government.

• Autore: Donald G. Nieman
• Editore: Anthem Press
• Anno: 2024
• Rilegatura: Paperback / softback
• Pagine: 464 p.
• Dimensioni: 216 x 140 mm
• Peso: 454 gr.
• EAN: 9781839992766

Testo in English