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"Of inestimable value for enjoyment and illumination."—15 Minutes.com
A rigorous explanation of connections among confidence in government institutions, popular support for democracy, and social justice in societies around the world.
How healthy are modern democratic institutions? In Political Democracy, Trust, and Social Justice, Charles F. Andrain and James T. Smith seek explanations for political alienation and discontent within democracies throughout the world.
Basing their research on the 1995-1997 World Values Survey, the authors explore information about eight established democracies (Norway, Sweden, Finland, Switzerland, West Germany, the United States, Japan, Spain) and seven democratizing societies, including three (East Germany, Bulgaria, Russia) that formerly had state socialist systems and four (Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Chile) where the military has played a crucial role. Andrain and Smith’s keen analysis identifies general cultural values and structural conditions linked to political participation, popular support for democracy, and perceptions of justice in specific societies across the globe.
Teachers and students of democratic theory, comparative politics, and political sociology will welcome this penetrating new study. General readers concerned about the current strength of political democracy will find numerous stimulating ideas. This third volume in the Democratization and Political Development Series increases our understanding of “democratization”—the process of realizing full civil and political rights in a viable, representative system. Methodologically sound, concise, insightful, and a model for further inquiry, this innovative book will become a seminal work in comparative political studies.
“A book whose interdisciplinary and comparative approach makes a valuable (and timely) contribution to the political science literature.”—The Law and Politics Book Review
“Political Democracy, Trust, and Social Justice: A Comparative Overview. This is an excellent, critical, and original study by top ranking political scientists on social justice as it relates to democratic trust and legitimacy. An unique conception and an outstanding piece of analysis. This book should rank as a standard in the field.”
—William Crotty, Center for the Study of Democracy at Northeastern University
"Especially when dealt with in a cross-national fashion, topics such as democracy, trust, and social justice are usually addressed without quality systematic data, but Andrain and Smith break the mold by combining thoughtful reflection with impressive and clever analysis of a useful data set. The result is a book that treats important subject matter in a
fashion that will appeal to a wide variety of scholars and observers."—John R. Hibbing, Foundation Regents, Professor of Political Science, University of Nebraska
Click here for TABLE OF CONTENTS
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CHARLES F. ANDRAIN is Professor Emeritus of Political Science at San Diego State University. He has published nine books on comparative political sociology, political psychology, and cross-national public policy. Andrain’s recent books include Political Protest and Social Change and Public Health Policies and Social Inequality. JAMES T. SMITH, an expert on American political behavior, the political process, public opinion, and survey research, has been a Visiting Research Fellow at The Catholic University Life Cycle Institute. He has taught at The American University, Rollins College, and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. His coauthored articles have appeared in American Politics Research and Political Research Quarterly.
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