Democracy: A Case Study

It’s hard to imagine a timelier book, given America’s tumultous 2016 elections, than this eminently readable survey of political disputes by Moss (Preventing Regulatory Capture), a Harvard professor of business administration. Moss believes that “American democracy has survived” not through agreement but “conflict—sometimes intense conflict—mediated, generally, by shared ideals.” He supports his belief with 19 examples, ranging from the Constitutional Convention of 1787 up through the Supreme Court’s controversial 2010 Citizens United decision. The 19 cases are the basis of a course he teaches to both undergraduates and graduates, and he offers his readers an opportunity to engage in critical thinking themselves by leaving each section unresolved, so that they can come to their own decisions as to which side of a particular controversy they come down on. (An appendix reveals the eventual decision reached in each case.) The examples have been carefully chosen to illustrate a range of issues, from hot-button ones, such as voting rights, to the less noted, such as the role of administrative agencies in meat safety inspection. Moss concludes by offering some interesting suggestions “for revitalizing democratic engagement and commitment,” based on his historical analyses. (Feb.)