Jon Herbert – författare

In this state-of-the-art textbook, a distinguished team of established experts and rising scholars discuss the legacy of the Obama years and the impact of the unexpected Trump presidential victory of 2016. Carrying on the tradition set by its predecessors of incisive, authoritative and up-to-date coverage, this eighth volume explores the policy dilemmas faced by the Trump administration, as well as the doubts over the efficiency of America’s key political institutions, its policy-making processes and the operation of its democracy.

Carefully balancing contemporary topics with in-depth analysis of their underlying processes and historical roots, this is essential reading for all students and researchers in the field of American government and politics. Moreover, as issues such as race, religion, and law and order become ever more politicized, it will be highly valuable for those interested in American society more generally.

The presidency of Donald J. Trump is rather ordinary. Trump himself may be the most unusual, unorthodox and unconventional president the US has ever had. Yet, even with his extraordinary personality and approach to the job, his presidency is proving quite ordinary in its accomplishments and outcomes, both at home and abroad. Like most modern US presidents, the number and scope of Trump’s achievements are rather meager. Despite dramatic claims to a revolution in US politics, Trump simply has not achieved very much. Trump’s few policy achievements are also mostly mainstream Republican ones rather than the radical, anti-establishment, swamp-draining changes promised on the campaign trail. The populist insurgent who ran against Washington has followed a policy agenda largely in tune with conservative Republican traditions. The Ordinary Presidency of Donald J. Trump provides a detailed explanation for the discrepancy between Trump’s extraordinary approach and the relative mediocrity of his achievements. Ironically, it is precisely Trump’s extraordinariness as president that has helped render his presidency ordinary. 

This textbook provides students of US Politics with an informed scholarly analysis of recent developments in the American political environment, using historical background to contextualize contemporary issues. As the ninth edition, this book reviews a time of political controversy in the United States, touching on topics such as gender, economic policy, gun control, immigration, the media, healthcare, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the widespread social protests against police brutality. The book looks both backwards to Trump''s presidency and forward to Biden''s. Ultimately, the editors and contributors evaluate the significance of these events on the future of American politics, providing a perspective that is at once broad and meticulous.