Citizenship in Hard Times: How Ordinary People Respond to Democratic Threat

Citizens respond to threats to democracy as partisans, interpreting civic obligation through a partisan lens that is shaped by their country's political institutions. This divided, partisan citizenship makes democratic problems worse by eroding the national unity required for democratic stability.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 250 pages
Publication date: 20 January 2022
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

This book delves into the intricate realm of civic obligation in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany, exploring the dynamics of mass politics amidst threats to democracy. Author Sara Wallace Goodman sheds light on the ways in which citizens respond to such challenges, emphasizing the role of partisanship in shaping their interpretations of civic duty. Through a comprehensive and comparative analysis, Goodman reveals that the divided, partisan nature of citizenship contributes to the exacerbation of democratic problems, as it erodes the essential national unity required for democratic stability.

To address these concerns, Citizenship in Hard Times employs novel survey experiments across a cross-national research design, providing the first comprehensive and comparative examination of citizenship norms in the face of democratic threat. By demonstrating that partisan citizens are not a reliable safeguard against democratic backsliding, Goodman identifies a critical vulnerability in the broader mass politics of democratic order. In times of democratic crisis, defenders of democracy must strive to fortify the shared foundations of democratic citizenship, fostering a sense of unity and common purpose that can withstand the challenges posed by external forces.

This book serves as a valuable contribution to the study of democracy and governance, offering insights into the complex dynamics between citizens, political institutions, and the preservation of democratic values. It underscores the importance of understanding the role of partisanship in shaping civic behavior and the need for concerted efforts to strengthen the foundations of democratic citizenship in order to ensure the long-term sustainability of democratic systems.

Weight: 360g
Dimension: 152 x 229 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781009061049
Edition number: New ed