“A must-read for anyone concerned about the fate of contemporary democracies.”—Steven Levitsky, co-author of How Democracies Die 2020 CHOICE Outstanding A

Characterized largely by expansionism, economic growth, and social and political reform, the period in American history following the War of 1812 proved advanta

The establishment of durable, democratic institutions constitutes one of the major challenges of our age. As countless contemporary examples have shown, it requ

A major American intellectual and “one of the right’s most gifted and astute journalists” (The New York Times Book Review) makes the historical case that

This book develops a framework for analyzing the creation and consolidation of democracy. Different social groups prefer different political institutions becaus