Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism

Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism
by Cornel West

Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism
List Price: $24.95
Our Price: $10.33
You Save: $14.62 (59%)
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Buy Used: from $4.02 (click here)
Category: Book
See more book details and other editions


(Click here)
Buy this book at online book store in your country
Canada | UK | Germany | France

Book Summary Information

Author: Cornel West
Edition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Published)
Format: Bargain Price
Published: 2004-09-02
ISBN: N/A
Number of pages: 240
Publisher: Penguin Press HC, The

Book Reviews of Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism

Book Review: A bit wordy in spots, but a great work on American Democracy
Summary: 4 Stars

I just read Dr. Wests book and it is an amazing insight on the factors that are shaping democracy in America and the world. Its like shining a flashlight in the dark. It shines light on the ways to strengthen our democracy, and further our democracy. West has an ability to recognize "GroupThink" and avoid it. The book has lots of historical references along the way, and explains a lot about the societal minefield that we must navigate in order to progress American democracy and democracy abroad. The level of truth shown is amazing, and it clears the smoke screen of media rhetoric, while at the same time providing a historical map leading to our current state of affairs.

Summary of Democracy Matters: Winning the Fight Against Imperialism

Praised by the New York Times for his "ferocious moral vision," Cornel West returns to the analysis of what he calls the arrested development of democracy with a masterful diagnosis. Pointing to the rise of three antidemocratic dogmas that are rendering the energy of American democracy impotent-a callous free-market fundamentalism, an aggressive militarism, and an insidious authoritarianism-West argues that racism and imperial bullying have gone hand in hand in our country's inexorable drive toward world dominance, including our current militaristic excesses. This impassioned and empowering call for the revitalization of America's democracy, by one of our most distinctive and compelling social critics, will reshape the raging national debate about America's role in today's troubled world.
n Democracy Matters, Cornel West's follow-up to 1993's Race Matters, the author's diagnosis of the state of modern American democracy is grim. The institution suffers, he says, from what he calls free market fundamentalism, aggressive militarism and escalating authoritarianism, forces that put a stranglehold on efforts to achieve better social and political results on a global scale. These systemic problems exist simultaneous to a pervading sense of nihilism throughout the American corridors of power, West contends, making lawmakers feel that they are inherently virtuous because they are so powerful and accepting a system they know to be unjust, while the press sacrifices truth and insight in pursuit of a sentimental story. Along the way, West makes extensive use of literary and historical parallels, employing Alexis de Tocqueville, Herman Melville, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Toni Morrison and others, with grea! t efficacy for the most part, to illustrate his points. West's prescription calls for a path toward a style of Christianity more in keeping with what he sees as true Christian ideals as well as a greater enfranchisement and understanding of young people and youth culture. West has a lot to say and the vast scope of West's arguments could be construed in at least a couple of ways: either he boldly takes on the enormity inherent to the topic of democracy, or he loses his way and attempts to touch on too wide a swath of topics while rarely going into sufficient detail on any of them. Besides being a provocative author, West is a highly respected professor and Democracy Matters reads something like a university lecture sounds: often insightful, occasionally disjointed, periodically obtuse, and sometimes brilliant. But in the ongoing effort to establish a better democracy, Professor West's perspective is highly instructive. --John Moe
Book Subjects
Most talked about in Books and e-Books
Kindle Shortcuts and Kindle-friendly Websites. This concise Kindle user guide describes keyboard shortcuts and hidden Kindle features for both Kindle 2 and Kindle 1. Updated 04/28/2009 ImageKindle Shortcuts and Kindle-friendly Websites. This concise Kindle user guide describes keyboard shortcuts and hidden Kindle features for both Kindle 2 and Kindle 1. Updated 04/ 28/ 2009
by MobileReference, mobi
MobileReference; MobileReference; Release date: 2009-04-03; Published: 2009-04-03; Kindle Edition; eBooks
Best price: $0.99
Twilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1) ImageTwilight (The Twilight Saga, Book 1)
by Stephenie Meyer
Little, Brown Young Readers; Published: 2006-09-06; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.00
Price in other shops: $10.99
The Shack ImageThe Shack
by William P. Young
Windblown Media; Published: 2008-07-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $7.40
Price in other shops: $14.99
The Twilight Saga Collection ImageThe Twilight Saga Collection
by Stephenie Meyer
Little, Brown Young Readers; Published: 2008-10-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $43.87
Price in other shops: $83.00
Cook Yourself Thin: Skinny Meals You Can Make in Minutes ImageCook Yourself Thin: Skinny Meals You Can Make in Minutes
by Lifetime Television
Voice; Published: 2009-04-28; Paperback; Book
Best price: $10.99
Price in other shops: $19.99
New Moon (The Twilight Saga, Book 2) ImageNew Moon (The Twilight Saga, Book 2)
by Stephenie Meyer
Little, Brown Young Readers; Published: 2008-05-31; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.75
Price in other shops: $10.99
Eclipse (The Twilight Saga, Book 3) ImageEclipse (The Twilight Saga, Book 3)
by Stephenie Meyer
Little, Brown Young Readers; Published: 2007-08-07; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $10.19
Price in other shops: $19.99
Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, Book 4) ImageBreaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga, Book 4)
by Stephenie Meyer
Little, Brown Young Readers; Published: 2008-08-02; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.95
Price in other shops: $22.99
The Lost Symbol ImageThe Lost Symbol
by Dan Brown
Doubleday Books; Published: 2009-09-15; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $15.63
Price in other shops: $28.95
Liberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto ImageLiberty and Tyranny: A Conservative Manifesto
by Mark R. Levin
Threshold Editions; Published: 2009-03-24; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $12.25
Price in other shops: $25.00
Similar Books and other products
Restoring Hope ImageRestoring Hope
by Cornel West
Beacon Press; Published: 1999-01-27; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.25
Price in other shops: $18.00
The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism ImageThe Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism
by Naomi Klein
Picador; Published: 2008-06-24; Paperback; Book
Best price: $5.92
Price in other shops: $16.00
The Covenant with Black America ImageThe Covenant with Black America
by Tavis Smiley
Third World Press; Published: 2006-01-01; Paperback; Book
Best price: $4.71
Price in other shops: $12.00
Dreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance ImageDreams from My Father: A Story of Race and Inheritance
by Barack Obama
Three Rivers Press; Published: 2004-08-10; Paperback; Book
Best price: $6.45
Price in other shops: $14.95
Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations ImageBlack Men Who Mean Business, Cornel West & BMWMB - Never Forget: A Journey of Revelations
Release date: 2007-08-21; Music CD
Best price: $3.60
Price in other shops: $13.98
The Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (Vintage) ImageThe Audacity of Hope: Thoughts on Reclaiming the American Dream (Vintage)
by Barack Obama
Vintage; Published: 2008-07-15; Mass Market Paperback; Book
Best price: $3.96
Price in other shops: $7.99
The Souls of Black Folk (Dover Thrift Editions) ImageThe Souls of Black Folk (Dover Thrift Editions)
by W. E. B. Du Bois, William Edward Burghardt Du Bois
Dover Publications; Published: 1994-05-20; Paperback; Book
Best price: $0.96
Price in other shops: $2.50
The Cornel West Reader ImageThe Cornel West Reader
Basic Civitas Books; Published: 2000-08; Paperback; Book
Best price: $11.75
Price in other shops: $22.00
Hope on a Tightrope: Words and Wisdom ImageHope on a Tightrope: Words and Wisdom
by Cornel West
Hay House; Published: 2008-11-01; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.95
Price in other shops: $19.95
Race Matters ImageRace Matters
by Cornel West
Beacon Press; Published: 2001-05-25; Hardcover; Book
Best price: $11.96
Price in other shops: $20.00
Book store. Illustrated catalog of books on different categories