Freedom in America [Paperback]

If you want students to really understand the concept of power, moving beyond a survey book's quick discussion of Laswell's who gets what and how, Muir's thoughtful Freedom in America might be the book for you. Exploring the words and ideas of such thinkers as Madison, Jefferson, Hamilton, and Tocqueville, Muir discusses the nature and limits of three types of powercoercive, reciprocal, and moraland then uses this framework to explain how American political institutions work.

If looking for an alternative to a long survey textor itching to get students grappling with The Federalist Papers or Democracy in America with more of a payoffMuir's meditation on power and personal freedom is a gateway for students to take their study of politics to the next level. His inductive style, engaging students with well-chosen and masterfully written stories, lets him draw out and distill key lessons without being preachy. Read a chapter and decide if this page turner is for you.This engaging and accessible text helps students to fully understand the idea of power, and looks at key thinkers such as Madison, Jefferson, Hamilton and Tocqueville.PART ONE: FREEDOM AND POWER
Anarchy
Coercive Power
Tyranny
The Police Power
The American Constitution
The Declaration of Independence
Tocqueville and Marx
Reciprocal Power
Moral Power
Demagoguery
Social Pluralism
Political Democracy
PART TWO: INSTITUTIONS OF FREEDOM
The Presidency
The Coercive Power of the Presidency
The Presidencys Reciprocal and Moral Powers
Legislatures as Schools
Congress as Defender of Freedom
The Supreme Court as Freedoms Protector
The Moral Power of the Courts
Political Parties: Machines, Coalitions, Churches
American Newspapers and Ideas&lã�