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Direct Democracy Or Representative Government? Dispelling The Populist Myth

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By John Haskell

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On Sale
Dec 29, 2000
Page Count
224 pages
Publisher
Avalon Publishing
ISBN-13
9780813397832

In Direct Democracy or Representative Government? John Haskell develops a devastating critique of direct democracy by exposing the central flaw in populist thinking. Contrary to the beliefs of populist advocates of direct democracy, the popular will cannot be interpreted from the results of the plebiscite. John Haskell presents a defense of representative institutions that brings to bear, in an understandable way, the findings of public choice scholars. Haskell covers the clash of ideas between populists and constitutionalists throughout American history. He follows the development of direct democracy during the twentieth century, especially the dramatically increased use of initiatives and referenda in the last decade. As Americans become increasingly frustrated with the workings of the institutions of government at the state and national levels, and as populist ideas gain greater currency, new forms of direct and participatory democracy making use of the latest computer technology appeal to more people. Haskell speculates as to the likely future direction of direct democracy in the U.S. He describes in clear language the fundamental problem with the premise of populist thinking and explains why direct democracy presents a threat to minority rights and only promises irresponsible and unaccountable governance.

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$41.00

Format

Trade Paperback

Format:

Trade Paperback $41.00

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John Haskell

About the Author

John Haskell is Assistant Director and Senior Specialist, Government and Finance Division with the Congressional Research Service. Haskell was Senior Fellow with the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University from 2000 to 2013 and has taught at Davidson College, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Drake University, and Claremont McKenna College's Washington Program.  He is the author of Fundamentally Flawed, a critique of the presidential nomination process, and Direct Democracy or Representative Government?. He was a Congressional Fellow in 1997-98, during which time he was the Budget Committee liaison for Congressman David Price.  He also handled education and tax issues for the Congressman.  Haskell received his Ph.D. in American politics from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Marian Currinder is a Senior Fellow with the Government Affairs Institute at Georgetown University. Before joining GAI in 2006, she was an Assistant Professor of American Politics at the College of Charleston.  Marian was an American Political Science Association Congressional Fellow in 2003-04.  She worked in DC as a legislative analyst and research associate before earning her M.A. and Ph.D. in American Government from the University of Florida. She has published several journal articles and book chapters on congressional politics and campaign finance, and is the author of Money in the House: Campaign Funds and Congressional Party Politics.  

Sara A. Grove is professor in the Department of Political Science at Shippensburg University.  Prior to her arrival at Shippensburg in 1992, Dr. Grove taught at Frostburg State University, North Carolina State University, and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  At Shippensburg, she teaches undergraduate and graduate courses that focus on constitutional law, political behavior, and public policy dealing with health care and older adults.  Sara took a leave of absence from her faculty position to earn her J.D. at The Dickinson School of Law of The Pennsylvania State University.  She worked as a law clerk for the Governor's Office of General Counsel under Governor Tom Ridge and for The Honorable J. Michael Eakin of the Pennsylvania Supreme Court.  Dr. Grove received her Ph.D. in American politics from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

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