Liars! Cheaters! Evildoers!

Demonization and the End of Civil Debate in American Politics

Nonfiction, Social & Cultural Studies, Political Science
Cover of the book Liars! Cheaters! Evildoers! by Tom De Luca, John Buell, NYU Press
View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart
Author: Tom De Luca, John Buell ISBN: 9780814744017
Publisher: NYU Press Publication: August 1, 2005
Imprint: NYU Press Language: English
Author: Tom De Luca, John Buell
ISBN: 9780814744017
Publisher: NYU Press
Publication: August 1, 2005
Imprint: NYU Press
Language: English

The level of vitriol in American politics has been rising with no end in sight. Terms like “evildoer,” “war on terror,” and “axis of evil” have become commonplace in our discussion of international politics. What ever happened to civil debate? Where has all this moralizing come from? And what harm has this new level of attack caused to democracy in America?
In this compelling and cogent account, Tom De Luca and John Buell chart the rise of what they rightly label as the “demonization”of American politics, showing how political campaigns often neglect debates over policy in favor of fights over the private character and personal lives of politicians. Political interests are still served by this style of politics, but democracy, the authors contend, is the loser. Covering everything from the Clinton impeachment to the war on terrorism to the 2004 presidential campaign, the authors show the distinctly American qualities of demonization and how their frequency and intensity has grown in the last four decades.
Suggesting that demonization is not inevitable or irreversible, this important book offers ways out of the political mudpit and back to a more civilized debate where democracy and freedom of speech can coexist in a productive, idea-rich environment.

View on Amazon View on AbeBooks View on Kobo View on B.Depository View on eBay View on Walmart

The level of vitriol in American politics has been rising with no end in sight. Terms like “evildoer,” “war on terror,” and “axis of evil” have become commonplace in our discussion of international politics. What ever happened to civil debate? Where has all this moralizing come from? And what harm has this new level of attack caused to democracy in America?
In this compelling and cogent account, Tom De Luca and John Buell chart the rise of what they rightly label as the “demonization”of American politics, showing how political campaigns often neglect debates over policy in favor of fights over the private character and personal lives of politicians. Political interests are still served by this style of politics, but democracy, the authors contend, is the loser. Covering everything from the Clinton impeachment to the war on terrorism to the 2004 presidential campaign, the authors show the distinctly American qualities of demonization and how their frequency and intensity has grown in the last four decades.
Suggesting that demonization is not inevitable or irreversible, this important book offers ways out of the political mudpit and back to a more civilized debate where democracy and freedom of speech can coexist in a productive, idea-rich environment.

More books from NYU Press

Cover of the book All Together Different by Tom De Luca, John Buell
Cover of the book New World A-Coming by Tom De Luca, John Buell
Cover of the book Delinquents and Debutantes by Tom De Luca, John Buell
Cover of the book Gender Reckonings by Tom De Luca, John Buell
Cover of the book Queer Times, Black Futures by Tom De Luca, John Buell
Cover of the book Women of Steel by Tom De Luca, John Buell
Cover of the book The End of the World As We Know It by Tom De Luca, John Buell
Cover of the book Gender in Judaism and Islam by Tom De Luca, John Buell
Cover of the book The Holocaust Across Generations by Tom De Luca, John Buell
Cover of the book Run for the Border by Tom De Luca, John Buell
Cover of the book China by Tom De Luca, John Buell
Cover of the book Labor's Home Front by Tom De Luca, John Buell
Cover of the book Talking Trash by Tom De Luca, John Buell
Cover of the book Pride Parades by Tom De Luca, John Buell
Cover of the book Jews, God, and Videotape by Tom De Luca, John Buell
We use our own "cookies" and third party cookies to improve services and to see statistical information. By using this website, you agree to our Privacy Policy