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7 reasons the book - "How to Think Politically" - is a must read "How to Think Politically" by James Bernard Murphy and Graeme Garrard is a book that explores fundamental concepts and principles in political thinking. Here are seven key points from the book: 1. Critical Thinking: The book emphasizes the importance of critical thinking in political analysis. Murphy and Garrard encourage readers to question assumptions, evaluate evidence, and consider alternative perspectives when examining political issues. 2. Political Ideologies: Murphy and Garrard provide an overview of major political ideologies, including liberalism, conservatism, socialism, and nationalism. They explore the core principles and values of each ideology and how they shape political beliefs and behavior. 3. Power and Authority: The book examines the nature of power and authority in politics. Murphy and Garrard discuss different forms of power, such as coercion, persuasion, and legitimacy, and how they are exercised within political systems. 4. Political Institutions: Murphy and Garrard analyze the role of political institutions in shaping political processes and outcomes. They explore concepts such as democracy, authoritarianism, federalism, and separation of powers, highlighting their impact on governance and policymaking. 5. Political Culture: The book discusses the importance of political culture in shaping political attitudes and behavior. Murphy and Garrard examine how factors such as history, religion, ethnicity, and social values influence political identities and allegiances. 6. Public Opinion and Media: Murphy and Garrard explore the role of public opinion and the media in politics. They discuss how public opinion is formed, measured, and influenced, as well as the impact of media framing, bias, and agenda-setting on political discourse. 7. Globalization and Political Change: The book examines the challenges and opportunities presented by globalization in politics. Murphy and Garrard discuss how globalization affects sovereignty, democracy, economic development, and cultural identity, and how political actors respond to these changes. To get a copy of this book, visit our bookshop at www.infoquestbooks.ng or send us a WhatsApp message on +2349059028486

Cooper's new book “How America Works... and Why it Doesn't” offers a concise yet comprehensive exploration of the maladies afflicting the American political system. With a keen eye for historical context and a clear-headed analysis of contemporary challenges, Cooper provides a much-needed roadmap for understanding the nation's current predicament. Central to Cooper's argument is the notion that Americans have become increasingly detached from the fundamental principles upon which their nation was built. The rise of tribalism, fueled by the echo chambers of social media, has eroded the common ground necessary for effective governance. Cooper skillfully traces the evolution of political parties from platforms of principle to vehicles of identity, demonstrating how this shift has exacerbated polarization and gridlock. While the book's brevity prevents an in-depth examination of specific policy issues, it effectively highlights the systemic problems hindering progress. Cooper's focus on the corrosive impact of social media and the erosion of trust in institutions is particularly insightful. He convincingly argues that these factors have created a toxic environment in which misinformation thrives and compromise is seen as weakness. Ultimately, “How America Works” serves as a wake-up call. Cooper's sober assessment of the nation's challenges is a stark reminder of the work that needs to be done to restore faith in democracy. While the book offers few concrete solutions, it provides a valuable framework for understanding the problem. By identifying the root causes of America's political dysfunction, Cooper empowers readers to engage in informed and constructive dialogue about the future of the nation. https://lnkd.in/eP8bAwHz

"My new book is called The Crisis of Democratic Capitalism. In essence, what it says is that our system, which is about the marriage of democracy with the market economy, is failing. It’s failing economically, and because it’s failing economically, it’s failing politically. That has left us open to profoundly antidemocratic forces, and we have to reverse this before it’s too late." Enjoy the reading! https://lnkd.in/d8uaYVbk

Assignment 4 ( S1E6 ) a new Blog, today about some homework from the book Introduction to Political Science. https://lnkd.in/eMCK3j6x

Prof. Dr. Carmela Aprea was invited to an interview with Authority Magazine! In the interview, she reveals her most important financial tips and talks about her research at the Mannheim Institute for Financial Education (MIFE). Read the whole article to find out how finance can be a powerful tool to achieve social and personal goals and why sometimes money is not everything. 💸 https://lnkd.in/d64G95Uu #finance #research #womeninleadership #womeninfinance

This book is under my reading lenses these days. Though not directly referring to Pakistan but the book, as if, s a case study of Pakistan's political system. The key take-aways of the book are as follows: 1. **Erosion of norms**: The authors argue that democracies often die not through sudden coups or revolutions, but through the gradual erosion of democratic norms and institutions. 2. **Political polarization**: They highlight how increasing polarization within societies can weaken democratic systems by fostering a winner-takes-all mentality and undermining cooperation across party lines. 3. **Weak institutions**: Democracies are vulnerable when their institutions, such as the judiciary and media, are weak or co-opted by political leaders, leading to a lack of checks and balances. 4. **Authoritarian leaders**: Levitsky and Ziblatt explore how charismatic and authoritarian leaders can exploit democratic processes to consolidate power and undermine democratic principles. 5. **Enabling conditions**: The book identifies certain enabling conditions for the erosion of democracy, including economic inequality, social divisions, and the breakdown of traditional political parties. 6. **Role of civil society**: They emphasize the crucial role of civil society in defending democracy, highlighting the importance of activism, independent media, and grassroots movements in holding leaders accountable. 7. **Global trends**: The authors draw parallels between the erosion of democracy in different countries, suggesting that certain global trends, such as the rise of populism and nationalism, contribute to democratic decline worldwide. 8. **Preventative measures**: Despite the grim outlook, the book offers suggestions for preventing democratic decay, including strengthening democratic institutions, promoting civic education, and fostering a culture of democratic norms and values. Overall, "Why Democracies Die" provides a comprehensive analysis of the challenges facing democracies and offers valuable insights into how to protect and strengthen democratic systems.

Abstract from my 2022 paper, "Evolution, uncertainty, and the asymptotic efficiency of policy," published in Public Choice: "Politics, like any social system, involves selection mechanisms. This paper presents a model of politics as an evolutionary process. Our model yields three main results. First, the political process selects for efficient policies in the long run. We call that attribute asymptotic efficiency. Second, bargaining amongst interest groups bounds the inefficiencies that can exist in the short run. Potential inefficiency declines when organizing interest groups becomes less costly. Finally, policies that appear to be inefficient in a static analysis can be efficient once economists consider the dynamic nature of political decisions. We argue that viewing the political process as a selection mechanism allows political economists to use efficiency as a criterion for positive economic analysis. In our approach, applied political economy involves looking for relevant costs that make the policy efficient. However, our approach does not rob political economists of the ability to make meaningful normative statements; it only constrains the type of statements made." Link: https://lnkd.in/eSFTzPJn

Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens Martin Gilens and Benjamin I. Page Each of four theoretical traditions in the study of American politics—which can be characterized as theories of Majoritarian Electoral Democracy, Economic-Elite Domination, and two types of interest-group pluralism, Majoritarian Pluralism and Biased Pluralism—offers different predictions about which sets of actors have how much influence over public policy: average citizens; economic elites; and organized interest groups, mass-based or business-oriented. A great deal of empirical research speaks to the policy influence of one or another set of actors, but until recently it has not been possible to test these contrasting theoretical predictions against each other within a single statistical model. We report on an effort to do so, using a unique data set that includes measures of the key variables for 1,779 policy issues. Multivariate analysis indicates that economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy, while average citizens and mass-based interest groups have little or no independent influence. The results provide substantial support for theories of Economic-Elite Domination and for theories of Biased Pluralism, but not for theories of Majoritarian Electoral Democracy or Majoritarian Pluralism. file:///C:/Users/mdvla/Downloads/testing-theories-of-american-politics-elites-interest-groups-and-average-citizens.pdf

I’m delighted to share that the special issue Advancing the Commonsverse: The Political Economy of the Commons is now available open access in the International Journal of the Commons. The special issue brings together a strong and coherent collection of articles about the relationship between commons, the state, and the economy. The articles explore the possibilities and constraints of the commons and the process of commoning as they unfold in real-world political-economic settings. The common conceptual thread is the innovative work of David Bollier and Silke Helfrich on the commons, which offers fundamental guidance on how to reimagine and transform the socio-ethical foundations of our society and economy, the relationship between civil associations and the state, and the nature of the state. The special issue frames the complex relationship between the commons and the state. as one of mutual dependency and argues for the careful redesign of our institutions of public administration and democratic governance to make them more receptive and accessible to the creative powers of the commons. Many thanks to Hendrik Wagenaar for co-editing the special issue with me and to Catherine Durose, Liz Richardson, Matt Ryan, Dr Jess Steele, OBE, Sonia Bussu (PhD), Marina Pera, Manuela Zechner, Roy Heidelberg, Antonio Vesco, Sandro Busso, and David Bollier for their fantastic contributions. https://lnkd.in/dCGSymez

Testing Theories of American Politics: Elites, Interest Groups, and Average Citizens - PDF: https://lnkd.in/gz3Js4Rt Each of four theoretical traditions in the study of American politics—which can be characterized as theories of Majoritarian Electoral Democracy, Economic-Elite Domination, and two types of interest-group pluralism, Majoritarian Pluralism and Biased Pluralism—offers different predictions about which sets of actors have how much influence over public policy: average citizens; economic elites; and organized interest groups, mass-based or business-oriented. A great deal of empirical research speaks to the policy influence of one or another set of actors, but until recently it has not been possible to test these contrasting theoretical predictions against each other within a single statistical model. We report on an effort to do so, using a unique data set that includes measures of the key variables for 1,779 policy issues. Multivariate analysis indicates that economic elites and organized groups representing business interests have substantial independent impacts on U.S. government policy, while average citizens and mass-based interest groups have little or no independent influence. The results provide substantial support for theories of Economic-Elite Domination and for theories of Biased Pluralism, but not for theories of Majoritarian Electoral Democracy or Majoritarian Pluralism.