Ultimate Washington insider Elliot Richardson (a stalwart of the liberal wing of the Republican party) offers a cool and steady examination of the growth of political cynicism and the accumulation of hostility toward our government by its citizens. Published to conicide with the Democratic and Republican national conventions, this is a bracing account of what it means to be a responsible American today.

Written by one of America's most distinguished public servants, Reflections of a Radical Moderate offers a clear-eyed and steady analysis of the state of our democracy and the growth of cynicism among American citizens toward their government. In a series of inspiring and pellucid essays, Elliot Richardson, a stalwart of the liberal wing of the Republican party, explains how American democracy may be at risk. He considers the compulsive pursuit of self-worth as a principal instigator of social conflict-not only between individuals but also among groups. He speculates on the effects of information technology on the American political process and examines the correct role of America in the enforcement of world peace. The result is a humane, optimistic view of national politics from a longtime Washington insider.

The book illustrates how insidiously the problem of race connects post-racially with a range of negative discourses and images conjured up by the narrative of the War on Terror.

“This country's leading hell-raiser" (The Nation) shares his impassioned counsel to young radicals on how to effect constructive social change and know “the difference between being a realistic radical and being a rhetorical one.” First published in 1971 and written in the midst of radical political developments whose direction Alinsky was one of the first to question, this volume exhibits his style at its best. Like Thomas Paine before him, Alinsky was able to combine, both in his person and his writing, the intensity of political engagement with an absolute insistence on rational political discourse and adherence to the American democratic tradition.

Democracy is not necessarily progressive, and will only be if we make it so. What Mondon and Winter call 'reactionary democracy' is the use of the concept of democracy and its associated understanding of the power to the people (demos cratos) for reactionary ends. The resurgence of racism, populism and the far right is not the result of popular demands as we are often told. It is rather the logical conclusion of the more or less conscious manipulation by the elite of the concept of 'the people' and the working class to push reactionary ideas. These narratives place racism as a popular demand, rather than as something encouraged and perpetuated by elites, thus exonerating those with the means to influence and control public discourse through the media in particular. This in turn has legitimised the far right, strengthened its hand and compounded inequalities. These actions diverts us away from real concerns and radical alternatives to the current system. Through a careful and thorough deconstruction of the hegemonic discourse currently preventing us from thinking beyond the liberal vs populist dichotomy, this book develops a better understanding of the systemic forces underpinning our current model and its exploitative and discriminatory basis. The book shows us that the far right would not have been able to achieve such success, either electorally or ideologically, were it not for the help of elite actors (the media, politicians and academics). While the far right is a real threat and should not be left off the hook, the authors argue that we need to shift the responsibility of the situation towards those who too often claim to be objective, and even powerless, bystanders despite their powerful standpoint and clear capacity to influence the agenda, public discourse, and narratives, particularly when they platform and legitimise racist and far right ideas and actors.

As with the first edition, this practical book is dedicated to building organizations of integrity. It has been written for students contemplating careers in public service, elected and appointed officials, administrators, and career public servants in America and abroad. Concise and comprehensive, Ethics Management for Public Administrators takes a public management perspective toward constructing ethical organizations. It includes: --an introduction to ethics management; --a discussion of the U.S. Constitutional and administrative environment in which officials carry out their duties; --descriptions and assessments of the tools available to elected and appointed officials who are committed to building ethical organizations; --a review of existing ethics management programs in American cities and counties; --an overview of legislative and administrative measures taken by Congress, presidents, the judiciary, and the fifty states to foster ethical governance; --unique coverage of ethics management around the world, with a focus on Europe and Asia; --hands-on skill-building exercises that conclude each chapter with active learning opportunities. Changes in the second edition include updated text and references, new examples, and new boxes and exhibits that appear throughout the text.