Description
Where democracy thrives, it seems far and away the best system of governance. Yet, relatively few countries have managed to transition successfully to democracy, and none of them have attained what Fathali M. Moghaddam calls "actualized democracy," the ideal in which all citizens share full, informed, equal participation in decision making. The obstacles to democratization are daunting, yet there is hope. What is it about human nature that seems to work for or against democracy?
The Psychology of Democracy explores political development through the lens of psychological science. He examines the psychological factors influencing whether and how democracy develops within a society, identifies several conditions necessary for democracy (such as freedom of speech, minority rights, and universal suffrage), and explains how psychological factors influence these conditions. He also recommends steps to promote in citizens the psychological characteristics that foster democracy. Written in a style that is both accessible and intellectually engaging, the book skillfully integrates research and an array of illustrative examples from psychology, political science and international relations, history, and literature.
About the Author
Fathali M. Moghaddam, PhD, is a professor of psychology at Georgetown University, and editor-in-chief of Peace and Conflict: Journal of Peace Psychology. Dr. Moghaddam was born in Iran, educated from an early age in England, and worked for the United Nations and McGill University before joining Georgetown University in 1990. His research focus includes the psychological changes required to move from dictatorship to democracy, a topic he studied for 5 years in postrevolution Iran, when he returned there in 1979. His most recent books include Psychology for the Third Millennium (2012, with Rom Harre), The Psychology of Friendship and Enmity (two volumes, 2013, with Rom Harre), and The Psychology of Dictatorship (2013), which received an honorable mention from the American Publishers Awards for Professional and Scholarly Excellence PROSE Awards. He currently is editing the two-volume Encyclopedia of Political Behavior.
Reviews
"Exceptionally informed and informative, impressively thoughtful and thought-provoking, The Psychology of Democracy is an outstanding work of accessible scholarship." -Midwest Book Review
"The Psychology of Democracy is a useful text for readers from a variety of disciplines. Lay persons, undergraduate students, and psychologists and political scientists would all find the book a useful and informative study of democracy." -PsycCRITIQUES
Book Information
ISBN 9781433820878
Author Fathali M. Moghaddam
Format Hardback
Page Count 257
Imprint American Psychological Association
Publisher American Psychological Association
