America and its critics: virtues and vices of the democratic hyperpower

No other country in the world evokes such contrasting sentiments as the United States of America. This is no new feat, but it has become particularly virulent in our days The reason is simple: after the end of the cold war America has remained the only super power in the world. Or rather, it has become a veritable hyper-power without apparent limits to the exercise of its power. The fate of the world in large part lies in the hands of its power. This book analyses the most widespread criticisms of American democracy, namely that it is plebiscitary, devoid of voters, unduly favours the rich, and that it is imperial. It shows that these criticisms fail to hit the mark. Yet, even if its vices are fewer and different from what is commonly bemoaned, neither can American democracy be read as an exemplary catalogue of virtues, as its apologetics would have it. Resting on contradictions rather than coherence, American democracy cannot be seen as a model and even less so as an ideology. Rather it should be understood as a method. Clearing the debate of commonplaces, unfounded certainties, and prejudices of opposite sign but equally intense, this volume illustrates the strengths and weaknesses of the American democratic experience As no country can hope to escape from the influence of the hyper-power, it is vital to understand both.