Democracy for the Few, 9th Edition

DEMOCRACY FOR THE FEW is a provocative interpretation of American Government. It shows how democracy is repeatedly violated by corporate oligopolies, and how popular forces have fought back and occasionally made gains in spite of the system. By focusing on the relationship between economic power and political power, discussing actual government practices and policies, conspiracies, propaganda, fraud, secrecy and other ploys of government and politics, this book stands apart in its analysis of how US Government works.

Democracy for the Few is a provocative interpretation of American government. By focusing on the relationship between economic power and political power and examining conspiracies, propaganda, fraud, secrecy, and other ploys of government and politics, this text stands apart in its analysis of how US government works.

New to this Ninth Edition:

An extensive discussion of the causes of and insufficient cures for the Great Recession of 2008-2009, with emphasis on corporate bailouts, hidden unemployment, and who benefits and who pays.

Updated discussions and new material for just about every policy area including the environment, growing economic inequality, new attempts at regulation, health care, and the hardships of working America.

Updated discussions of the “unitary executive,” conservative judicial activism, and the Obama administration.

A look at attempts to suppress the popular vote through fraud, disinformation, and coercion, including the 2004, 2006, and 2008 elections.

At Wadsworth Political Science, our goal is to publish current, relevant programs that help instructors create lively, engaging classrooms. We aim to further inspire those students who are passionate about the discipline, and to motivate beginning students by showing them that they can, indeed, make a difference.

Wadsworth, a part of Cengage Learning, publishes textbooks and programs for all of the course areas in the Political Science curriculum.

Michael Parenti has taught political and social science at a number of colleges and universities, and now devotes himself full time to writing and guest lecturing. He is an internationally known, award winning author who has published 21 books, including: God and His Demons (2010); Contrary Notions: The Michael Parenti Reader (2007); The Culture Struggle (2006), and The Assassination of Julius Caesar (2003).Various writings of his have been translated into some twenty languages. His publications, including previous editions of Democracy for the Few, have been read and enjoyed by students, lay readers, and scholars, and have been used extensively in hundreds of college courses across the country. Dr. Parenti lectures frequently throughout North America and abroad. His various talks and interviews have played widely on radio, television, and the Internet. Some 300 articles of his have been published in magazines, newspapers, websites, and scholarly journals, including American Political Science Review, Journal of Politics, Social Research, and New Political Science. For more information, visit his website: www.michaelparenti.org.