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Democracy Against Itself - by  Mark Chou (Paperback) - 1 of 1

Democracy Against Itself - by Mark Chou (Paperback)

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Highlights

  • Why do some democracies self-destruct?
  • About the Author: Mark Chou is Lecturer in Politics in the Faculty of Education and Arts at Australian Catholic University.
  • 192 Pages
  • Philosophy, Political

Description



About the Book



Using 4 case studies - democratic Athens, the Weimar Republic, contemporary American democracy and China's fledging efforts to democratise - Mark Chou examines why democracy is prone to self-destruction.



Book Synopsis



Why do some democracies self-destruct? Using the collapse of democracy in ancient Athens and the Weimar Republic, as well as the uncertain fate of democratic rule in the United States and China today as illustrative examples, Mark Chou examines the conditions and characteristics of democracy that make it prone to self-destruct. In drawing out the political lessons from these past collapses, he explains how a democracy can, simply by being democratic, sow the seeds of its own destruction.



From the Back Cover



'An enormously important book on politics and democracy. What makes it both interesting and brilliant reading is not Chou's abandonment of democracy but his scorching analysis of how democracy is misrepresented - the perversions and swindles made in its name against its real promise. Read this book and you will never again take democracy for granted.' Henry A. Giroux is Professor of English and Cultural Studies at McMaster University and a distinguished visiting scholar at Ryerson University. 'Mark Chou reveals the endogenous factors that can make democracy unsustainable. This eloquently written book offers new insights on democratic politics for scholars, students, and citizens.' Nancy S. Love, Professor of Political Science, Appalachian State University A lively exploration of the reasons why some democracies self-destruct That all democracies have, by their very nature, the potential to destroy themselves is a fact too rarely documented by acolytes of the system. In the decades since Joseph Goebbels, then as Reich Minister of Propaganda, reminded the world that it 'will always remain one of the best jokes of democracy that it gave its deadly enemies the means by which it was destroyed', democrats have quickly forgotten just how precarious a political framework it can be. Using as illustrative examples the collapse of democracy in ancient Athens and the Weimar Republic, as well as the uncertain fate of democratic rule in the United States and China today, this book examines the conditions and characteristics of democracy that make it prone to self-destruct. In drawing out the political lessons from these past collapses, Mark Chou explains how a democracy can, in the course of being democratic, sow the seeds of its own destruction. Mark Chou is Lecturer in Politics in the Faculty of Education and Arts at Australian Catholic University. He is also the author of Greek Tragedy and Contemporary Democracy (2012). Cover image: This isn't democracy (c) Steven Mileham. Cover design: [EUP logo] www.euppublishing.com



Review Quotes




An enormously important book on politics and democracy. What makes it both interesting and brilliant reading is not Chou's abandonment of democracy but his scorching analysis of how democracy is misrepresented - the perversions and swindles made in its name against its real promise. Read this book and you will never again take democracy for granted.--Henry A. Giroux, McMaster University and Ryerson University, Canada

Mark Chou reveals the endogenous factors that can make democracy unsustainable. This eloquently written book offers new insights on democratic politics for scholars, students and citizens.--Nancy S. Love, Professor of Political Science, Appalachian State University



About the Author



Mark Chou is Lecturer in Politics in the Faculty of Education and Arts at Australian Catholic University. He is also the author of Greek Tragedy and Contemporary Politics (Bloomsbury: 2012).

Dimensions (Overall): 9.21 Inches (H) x 6.14 Inches (W)
Suggested Age: 22 Years and Up
Number of Pages: 192
Genre: Philosophy
Sub-Genre: Political
Publisher: Edinburgh University Press
Format: Paperback
Author: Mark Chou
Language: English
Street Date: June 30, 2026
TCIN: 1009268073
UPC: 9781399565646
Item Number (DPCI): 247-50-1189
Origin: Made in the USA or Imported
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Shipping details

Estimated ship dimensions: 1 inches length x 6.14 inches width x 9.21 inches height
Estimated ship weight: 1 pounds
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Q: What is the main theme of the book?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 20 days ago
  • A: The main theme explores why democracies are prone to self-destruction and the conditions that contribute to this phenomenon.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 20 days ago
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Q: What insights does the book offer?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 20 days ago
  • A: It offers insights into the endogenous factors that can make democracy unsustainable, relevant for scholars and citizens alike.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 20 days ago
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Q: Who is the author of this book?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 20 days ago
  • A: The author is Mark Chou, a Lecturer in Politics at Australian Catholic University.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 20 days ago
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Q: What genre does this book belong to?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 20 days ago
  • A: This book belongs to the genres of Philosophy and Political science.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 20 days ago
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Q: What case studies are examined in the book?

submitted by AI Shopping Assistant - 20 days ago
  • A: The book examines democratic Athens, the Weimar Republic, contemporary American democracy, and China's efforts to democratize.

    submitted byAI Shopping Assistant - 20 days ago
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