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ISBN: 9781773100418

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Too Dumb for Democracy?

Brexit. Trump. Ford Nation. In this timely book, David Moscrop asks why we make irrational political decisions and whether our stone-age brains can process democracy in the information age.

In an era overshadowed by income inequality, environmental catastrophes, terrorism at home and abroad, and the decline of democracy, Moscrop argues that the political decision-making process has never been more important. In fact, our survival may depend on it.

Drawing on both political science and psychology, Moscrop examines how our brains, our environment, the media, and institutions influence decision-making. Making good decisions is not impossible, Moscrop argues, but the psychological and political odds are sometimes stacked against us. In this readable and provocative investigation of our often-flawed decisions, Moscrop explains what’s going wrong in today’s political landscape and how individuals, societies, and institutions can work together to set things right.

Contributors

David Moscrop

David Moscrop is a political theorist with an interest in democratic deliberation and citizenship. Moscrop is a regular writer for Maclean’s, a contributing columnist to the Washington Post, and a regular political commentator on television and radio. He has also authored pieces in numerous other newspapers and magazines including the Globe and Mail and National Post.
Chapter Title Contents Contributors Pages Year Price

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 The Introduction offers of reflection on how we have found ourselves in a messy world where we must make important decisions. The title of the book asks, “Are we too dumb for … 13 $1.30

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 Chapter One explores the roots of our bad political decisions; but the author argues that none of those reasons are excuses for us to throw up our arms and say, “Well, what can you do? We … 30 $3.00

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 Chapter Two explores the context in which we make good or bad political decisions. You cannot separate a decision from the time and place in which it is made. Our personalities and brains, our … 26 $2.60

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 Chapter Three examines what makes a good political decision. This chapter focuses the process rather than the Outcome of “good” political decision. 26 $2.60

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 Chapter Four focuses on why it is so difficult to make well informed discussions. The chapter explores our biological and psychological motivations behind our abilities towards good political … 27 $2.70

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 Chapter Five explores the conditions under which we tend to make the best decisions about complex issues, political or otherwise. We do best when we have lots of time and resources at our … 11 $1.10

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 Chapter Six focuses how political institutions are formed, maintained, and how they condition the way we think and behave. Institutions set up rules, expectations, norms, punishments, and … 23 $2.30

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 Chapter Seven explores how our bodies, our psychology, our milieu, and our institutions happen to lead us down the path to bad decisions. Building a general model of political decision-making … 21 $2.10

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 Chapter Eight examines how we can achieve more good political decision-making that implies and requires trade-offs, since doing better takes time, attention, and other resources. It also requires … 23 $2.30

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 Chapter Nine focuses on the personal effort to make better political decisions. The author argues that individuals cannot and should not be expected to do the work of making rational, autonomous … 19 $1.90

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 In the Conclusion, the author reflects on his hopes for the book. In this century, we face the threats of climate change and the disasters that flow from it — such as flooding, drought, … 7 $0.70