Democracy for Realists

Christopher H. Achen and Larry M. Bartels challenge what they call the folk theory of democracy, the idea that thoughtful citizens steer government through their votes. Drawing on original analyses of subjects from abortion politics and budget deficits to shark attacks and the Great Depression, they argue that voters, even well-informed and engaged ones, mostly choose by social identity and partisan loyalty rather than by issues, and that they adjust their policy views and even their sense of the facts to match. When parties are roughly even, elections often hinge on things such as economic swings that incumbents do not control. The authors conclude that democratic theory should rest on groups and parties, not on individual preferences.

Mark Manson praised its sober, eye-opening reading of the evidence on what makes democracy work or fail, adding bluntly that people are stupid.