Arthur Paulson is professor emeritus of political science at Southern Connecticut State University.

Donald Trump’s presidency challenges the basic norms and values of the American experiment in democratic governance. Trump is devoid of political experience, lacks an understanding of policy, government, or international affairs, is angry, vengeful, and unpredictable, and has been accused of emotional instability with a fixation on one-man rule. How to explain such a presidency? Arthur Paulson takes on the task. He places Trump within the arc of the nation’s political development. The results are extraordinary. A must-read for students, academicians, and those concerned with the future of American politics. Excellent!

• Chapter 1: An Unprecedented PresidentChapter 2: From Umbrella Parties to Polarized Parties in American PoliticsChapter 3: Trumping the Republicans and Berning the DemocratsChapter 4: The Presidential Election of 2016 in Historical PerspectiveChapter 5: The Irony of Polarization: Parliamentary Parties Without Parliamentary GovernmentChapter 6: The Trump Era and Beyond: Postindustrial Democracy in AmericaConclusion

Arthur Paulson is professor emeritus of political science at Southern Connecticut State University.

Donald Trump’s presidency challenges the basic norms and values of the American experiment in democratic governance. Trump is devoid of political experience, lacks an understanding of policy, government, or international affairs, is angry, vengeful, and unpredictable, and has been accused of emotional instability with a fixation on one-man rule. How to explain such a presidency? Arthur Paulson takes on the task. He places Trump within the arc of the nation’s political development. The results are extraordinary. A must-read for students, academicians, and those concerned with the future of American politics. Excellent!

• Chapter 1: An Unprecedented PresidentChapter 2: From Umbrella Parties to Polarized Parties in American PoliticsChapter 3: Trumping the Republicans and Berning the DemocratsChapter 4: The Presidential Election of 2016 in Historical PerspectiveChapter 5: The Irony of Polarization: Parliamentary Parties Without Parliamentary GovernmentChapter 6: The Trump Era and Beyond: Postindustrial Democracy in AmericaConclusion

Arthur Paulson is professor emeritus of political science at Southern Connecticut State University.

Donald Trump’s presidency challenges the basic norms and values of the American experiment in democratic governance. Trump is devoid of political experience, lacks an understanding of policy, government, or international affairs, is angry, vengeful, and unpredictable, and has been accused of emotional instability with a fixation on one-man rule. How to explain such a presidency? Arthur Paulson takes on the task. He places Trump within the arc of the nation’s political development. The results are extraordinary. A must-read for students, academicians, and those concerned with the future of American politics. Excellent!

• Chapter 1: An Unprecedented PresidentChapter 2: From Umbrella Parties to Polarized Parties in American PoliticsChapter 3: Trumping the Republicans and Berning the DemocratsChapter 4: The Presidential Election of 2016 in Historical PerspectiveChapter 5: The Irony of Polarization: Parliamentary Parties Without Parliamentary GovernmentChapter 6: The Trump Era and Beyond: Postindustrial Democracy in AmericaConclusion