Democracy Incorporated

Democracy Incorporated, by Sheldon S. Wolin, confronts the unsettling notion that America may have unknowingly transformed into a peculiar political hybrid. This hybrid sees economic and state powers conjoined and almost unchecked.

Wolin questions whether the nation has begun its descent into what he terms "inverted totalitarianism." He describes a country where citizens are politically uninterested and complacent, while elites are determined to maintain the status quo. The result, he argues, is at best a "managed democracy," where the public is guided rather than sovereign, and at its worst, a regime where corporate dominance overrides state control.

While Wolin is clear that today's America does not morally or politically equate to totalitarian states like Nazi Germany, he warns about the dangers of unchecked economic power gravitating towards total control, with its own disturbing consequences. The author scrutinises the myths that uphold current politics, the relentless pursuit of economic growth, and the grim allure of a perpetual war on terror.

Passionately, Wolin argues that the best hope for democracy lies in citizens rediscovering their power at the local level. Democracy Incorporated presents one of the most troubling analyses of America's political health in recent times and is poised to spark political debate for years to come.

Now featuring a new introduction by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Chris Hedges, Democracy Incorporated remains a vital work for comprehending the state of democracy in America.