Kabuki Democracy

In this 'agenda-setting' polemic, bestselling author and Nation columnist Eric Alterman argues that while Obama has failed to make good on many of his most significant campaign promises so far, this failure results from a series of structural hurdles in our political system that encourage conservative transformative change, but stand in the way of its progressive counterpart. In July 2010, Eric Alterman published an essay titled "Kabuki Democracy" in US publication "The Nation". Alterman argued that while the Obama presidency has undoubtedly been a disappointment from a progressive point of view, its failures were not primarily due to a collapse of his political imagination, nor to strategic errors during his first year of governance. Rather, the political system is rigged against progressive transformation. The reaction to the article was instantaneous. Politico's Mike Allen proclaimed it an 'agenda-setter' on his influential "Playbook"; Peggy Noonan cited the piece on the op-ed page of the "Wall Street Journal" and Alterman appeared on CNN and MSNBC. In "Kabuki Democracy", Alterman expands upon his thesis to explain why a progressive presidency is impossible. He deconstructs every aspect of the political system, from lobbying to the Supreme Court to the failure of the press to the prominence of anti-government ideology, to reveal how overwhelming structural impediments have blocked a progressive-minded president from carrying out his democratic mandate. He also lays forth a clear game plan going forward, expounding his belief that 'with regard to almost every single one of our problems, we need better, smarter organizing at every level and a willingness on the part of liberals and leftists to work with what remains of the center to begin the process of reforms that are a beginning, rather than an endpoint in the process of societal transformation'. Brilliantly blending incisive political analysis with a clear agenda for change, "Kabuki Democracy" cuts through the false promise offered by the transformative politics of hope, arguing instead that real reform will only come when accompanied by resurgent civic engagement.

(Bookdata)