Political Realism: How Hacks, Machines, Big Money, and Back-Room Deals Can Strengthen American Democracy

Summary: “Political Realism: How Hacks, Machines, Big Money, and Back-Room Deals Can Strengthen American Democracy” (available here as a free e-book) builds on political realism, an emerging school of thought that is characterized by respect for transactional politics and by skepticism toward idealistic political reforms. In our era of intense polarization and gridlock, Jonathan Rauch asks: How can political home truths – truths our grandparents took for granted – help modern politicians negotiate, compromise, and govern? -- Featuring: Stephen R. Klein, Attorney, Pillar of Law Institute and Jonathan Rauch, Senior Fellow, Governance Studies, The Brookings Institution