"Throughout western history, the societies that have made the greatest contributions to the spread of freedom have created iconic works of art to celebrate their achievements. Yet despite the enduring appeal of works from the Parthenon to Michelangelo's David to Picasso's Guernica, histories of both art and democracy have ignored this phenomenon. Millions have admired the works of art covered in this book but relatively few know why they were commissioned,...

Contrary to what is commonly believed, authoritarian leaders who agree to hold elections are generally able to remain in power longer than autocrats who refuse to allow the populace to vote. In this engaging and provocative book, Nic Cheeseman and Brian Klaas expose the limitations of national elections as a means of promoting democratization, and reveal the six essential strategies that dictators use to undermine the electoral process in order to...

A bold rethinking of the most powerful political idea in the world--democracy--and the story of how radical democracy can yet transform America. Democracy has been the American religion since before the Revolution--from New England town halls to the multicultural democracy of Atlantic pirate ships. But can our current political system, one that seems responsive only to the wealthiest among us and leaves most Americans feeling disengaged, voiceless,...

This title exposes readers to historical information regarding the formation of modern politics and democracy. From the early days of democracy in Athens, politics and government systems have undergone several changes up to the present moment. After the fall of the Roman Empire, most of Europe operated with a monarchical political system. Readers will learn how modern politics and governments have been influenced by such systems as Communism and fascism....

From Plato to de Tocqueville to Fukuyama-an epic history of the governing philosophy that has defined Western history.

Drawing upon often neglected fragments of history, this book presents evidence for a mysterious Great Plan at the core of the nation's founding. Occult scholar Manly P. Hall argues that humanistic, esoteric, and mystical orders collaborated in setting aside the American continent for a world-shaking experiment in enlightened self-government and religious liberty. The author locates the seeds for this plan 1,000 years before the beginning of the Christian...

"Follows the stories of the ancient Greeks in Athens and the American colonists as they struggle to create democracies"--Provided by publisher.