This list of readings is organized primarily according to the topics that will be discussed during the series. Ideally, participants would read some of these prior to each session, but the sources are also meant to help provide additional information for further individual exploration of the key topics. This list is not meant to be comprehensive, but only as a sample of sources on the various topics dealt with in the series.
Readings on 鈥淒emocratic Deconsolidation鈥� and the Challenges to American Democracy
- Applebaum, Anne. The Twilight of Democracy, New York: Doubleday, 2020.
- Baker, John. R. Strengthening American Democracy: Reflection, Action, and Reform, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, 2024.
- Buckley, Frank H. American Secession: The Looming Threat of a National Breakup, New York: Encounter Press, 2020.
- Foa, Roberto Stefan and Yascha Mounk, 鈥淭he Signs of Deconsolidation,鈥� Journal of Democracy, 28 (January 2017), pp. 5-15.
- Fukuyama, Francis. Liberalism and its Discontents, New York, NY: Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2022.
- Inglehart, Ronald F., 鈥淭he Dangers of Deconsolidation: How Much Should We Worry?鈥� Journal of Democracy, 27 (July 2016), pp. 18-23.
- Hudson, William E., American Democracy in Peril, 9th Edition, Los Angeles, CA: CQ Press, 2021.
- Levitsky, Steven, and Daniel Ziblatt, How Democracies Die, New York, NY: Crown Publishers, 2018.
- Nichols, Tom, Our Own Worst Enemy: The Assault from Within on Modern Democracy, New York: Oxford University Press, 2021.
- Sharlet, Jeff. The Undertow: Scenes from a Slow Civil War, New York: W.W. Norton, 2023.
- Stanley, Jason. How Fascism Works: The Politics of Us and Them, New York: Random House, 2020.
Topic 1 (7/15): 鈥淲hat Does Good Citizenship Mean to You?鈥�
- 鈥淏eing Gardeners of our Communities,鈥� in John R. Baker, Strengthening American Democracy: Reflection, Action, and Reform, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, Broadview Press, 2024, pp. 132-133.
- Dalton, Russell J. The Good Citizen, 3rd edition, Thousand Oaks, CA: CQ Press, 2021.
- 鈥淕ood Citizenship鈥擶hat Does it Mean to You?鈥� in John R. Baker, Strengthening American Democracy: Reflection, Action, and Reform, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, Broadview Press, 2024, pp. 120-121.
- 鈥淚ncivility in American Politics,鈥� in John R. Baker, Strengthening American Democracy: Reflection, Action, and Reform, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, Broadview Press, 2024, pp. 27-29.
- Shriver, Jr., Donald, An Ethic for Enemies: Forgiveness鈥� in Politics, New York: Oxford University Press, 1995.
- Tutu, Desmond, and Mpho Tutu, Made for Goodness and Why This Makes All the Difference, New York: HarperOne, 2011.
Topic 2 (7/29): 鈥淐onfirmation Bias and Media Consumption鈥�
- "Facts Matter, but Do They Speak for Themselves?鈥� in John R. Baker, Strengthening America Democracy: Reflection, Action, and Reform, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, Broadview Press, 2024, pp. 25-27.
- 鈥淔ake News: Misinformation/Disinformation/What is Confirmation Bias?,鈥� .
- Interactive Media Bias Chart: .
- Ziva Kunda, 鈥淭he Case for Motivated Reasoning,鈥� Psychological Bulletin 108 (1990), 480., .
Topic 3 (8/12): 鈥淭he American Dream Under Stress鈥�
- Levitsky, Steven, and Daniel Ziblatt, How Democracies Die, New York, NY: Crown Publishers, 2018.
- 鈥淪till Believe in the American Dream?鈥� in Baker, John R., Strengthening American Democracy: Reflection, Action, and Reform, Peterborough Ontario, Canada, Broadview Press, 2024, pp. 20-21.
- (Online Reading)
Topic 4 (8/26): 鈥淲hat are America鈥檚 Values?鈥�
- 鈥淎merican Creed鈥� video, .
- 鈥淐an America鈥檚 Center be Rebuilt?鈥� in John R. Baker, Strengthening American Democracy: Reflection, Action, and Reform, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, Broadview Press, 2024, pp. 121-123.
- Huntington, Samuel P., American Politics: The Promise of Disharmony, Cambridge, MA: Belknap, 1981, pp. 60-84.
- Rocky, 1976, Film directed by John G. Avildsen, Distributed by United Artists.
- 鈥淪worn-Again, America,鈥� .
Topic 5 (9/9): 鈥淧olarization, Public Perception of the Legal System, and the Legitimacy of the Rule of Law.鈥�
- (Online Reading)
- Gallup Surveys: (Online Reading)
- SCOTUS Term Statistics: (Online Reading)
- SCOTUS Stat Review: (Online Reading)
- (Online Reading)
- (Online Reading)
Topic 6 (9/23): 鈥淗ow Does Gerrymandering Undermine Democracy, and What Can We Do About It?鈥�
- Olson, Brian. 鈥淎lgorithmic Gerrymandering.鈥� .
- 鈥淔ix Gerrymandering to Reduce Gridlock and Extremism,鈥� in John R. Baker, Strengthening American Democracy: Reflection, Action, and Reform, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, Broadview Press, 2024, pp.101-105.
- 鈥淔reedom Caucus Shows Corrosive Effects of Gerrymandering,鈥� in John R. Baker, Strengthening American Democracy: Reflection, Action, and Reform, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, Broadview Press, 2024, pp. 105-107.
- 鈥淥hio Citizens Redistricting Commission Amendment, 2024.鈥� .
- Smith, Paul M., 鈥淭he Supreme Court, Gerrymandering, and the Rule of Law,鈥� American Bar Association, July 26, 2023. .