... [an] important book.

... lively.

The truths Müller expounds may well be self-evident, and they are worthy goals for Western democracies presently roiled by crises of legitimacy and longer-term policy drift—but Müller’s analysis rarely engages with the root causes of these crises. He proposes procedural fixes that are well-considered but leaves them largely to float in a conceptual and ideological vacuum. Populism is the villain of this book. But that may be largely because it misconstrues a tradition that could revitalize democracy.

Unlike many others in the demo­cracy-at-risk school, Müller provides a somewhat reassuring perspective by emphasizing that conflict and uncertainty are part of the dynamism of democracy itself..

In this fascinating, readable work, the author helps readers understand exactly how democracy is meant to work. Meticulously researched and clearly spelled out, the narrative demonstrates what democracy is and isn’t.

... [a] muddled meditation.