American Democracy in Context

American Democracy in Context provides a combined comparative and historical approach to inspire students to better understand, care, and become active citizens. Bestselling authors Maltese, Pika, and Shively explain the distinctive features of how Americans practice democracy―how they vote, translate election results into representation of interests, make policy decisions, enforce laws and maintain justice―and how those practices differ from other democracies in the world. The emphasis is always on the American political system, but the search for understanding requires students to examine how the American system has developed over time (historical context) and how it compares with similar practices in other democracies (comparative context). This combined approach motivates students to understand why politics is relevant to their everyday lives and how they can affect changes to make their lives better.