What Kind of Democracy Is This?

Has there ever been a period in modern history when democratic politics seemed more unpredictable or unruly? The old rules by which politics was once both ordered and understood have waned, in the face of a set of global challenges almost beyond control or comprehension.

In terms of understanding these challenges, there are very few commentators who can run the gamut from democracy to disgust, from the micro to the macro and from love to loathing. And yet this is exactly what Matthew Flinders delivers, expertly ranging across topics including architecture, art, fell running and fairy tales in an attempt to understand the emerging democratic landscape.

Linking academic scholarship with popular culture, this refreshing and stimulating book seeks to provoke and inform in equal measure.

'Why feelings trump facts: Populism, emotions and American democracy' on Transforming Society

"This is awesome!" Isabelle Engeli, University of Bath, customer review

"Essential, effervescent reading for anyone wishing to gain an insight into the rapidly evolving politics of our time" Judith Haire, customer review

“An accessible series of thought-provoking posts, Flinders draws on political science to bring a fresh interpretation to many of today’s most topical political events.” Claire Ainsley

Joseph Rowntree Foundation

"What an engaging and FUN book! Flinders' thoughts are accessible, challenging and insightful. A must-read not just for politics academics but for anyone interested in the apparent ‘madness’ of our contemporary democracy." Angelia R. Wilson, University of Manchester

"A skilfully crafted succession of humorous, scholarly and thought provoking insights into contemporary democratic politics and more....should most definitely be on the coffee tables of all serious politicos." Rosie Campbell, Birkbeck University

"Democratic politics is a glorious, dangerous, and ever-changing game. These short commentaries are insightful, easily read, and just as lively as the game itself." Alasdair Roberts, University of Missouri

"A brilliant effort by one of our most prolific writers to engage us in the public dialogue so urgently needed in a world of Trumps, Brexits and other populist challenges." Melvin J. Dubnick, University of New Hampshire

"This a book that the interested reader can read a couple of chapters of before bed or on the train and get insight, enlightenment and an occasional smile. It captures many of the issues and discontents facing many democracies and begins to talk about how they might be addressed." Gerry Stoker, University of Southampton and University of Canberra

"An extremely unusual, accessible and innovative way of getting across crucial messages not only about the importance of democracy but how it affects a whole range of aspects of our lives. I hope that people will find it as entertaining and intriguing as I do." Rt. Hon, the Prof Lord Blunkett

"A very elegant collection of concise comments on contemporary politics – witty, thought-provoking and a great read." Mark Bovens, Utrecht University School of Governance

1st Post: Democracy & Life, Feral Forks & Fell Running;

1. Fire and Ashes: Success and Failure in Politics;

2. Down and Out in Bloemfontein and Rio;

3. Reveries of a Long Distance Fell Runner;

4. Feral Politics: Searching for Meaning in the 21st Century;

5. Sharks, Asylum Seekers and Australian Politics;

6. The Smart Fork and the Crowding Out of Thought;

7. Vape – A Word that Encapsulates the Nothingness of Today;

8. Saints and Sinners, Politicians and Priests;

9. Why Satire is no joke anymore;

2nd Post: Democracy & Disgust, Love & Loathing;

10. In our Name;

11. The Problems with Democracy;

12. Hyper-Democracy;

13. Calming the Storm;

14. Look Beneath the Vote;

15. More than a Vote;

16. Beastly Eastleigh and the ‘None-of-the-Above’ Party;

17. New Politics, Kinder Politics and the Myth of Anti-Politics;

3rd Post: Democracy & Representation, Disintegration & Desire;

18. What a mess! The politics and governance of the British constitution;

19. The Dis-United Kingdom;

20. What does Scotland’s vote mean for Constitutional Reform?;

21. Looking beyond the Scottish referendum;

22. Cameron makes lightning bid to become the great reformer;

23. Learning to love democracy;

24. Let the people speak!;

25. Raw Politics;

4th Post: Democracy & Personality, Politics & Pressure;

26. Vote Jeremy Clarkson on 7 May!;

27. After the Storm: Failure, Fallout and Farage;

28. Tony Benn was a true man of the people;

29. Dear Russell Brand- On the Politics of Comedy and Disengagement;

30. Foolish, but no fool- Boris Johnson and the Art of Politics;

31. Remembering Margaret Thatcher;

32. Trump That! The Failure and Farce of American Politics;

33. Mad Politics;

5th Post: Art & Architecture, Politics & Protest;

34. Shake your Chains: Politics, Poetry and Protest;

35. DIY Democracy: Festivals, Parks and Fun;

36. Participatory Arts and Active Citizenship;

37. The Body Politic: Art, Pain, Putin;

38. It’s a Joke!;

39. Left Behind? The Future of Progressive Politics;

40. Why Parliament Matters;

41. The Palace of Westminster: Rip it up and start again;

42. Democracy Day: We need to break free;

6th Post: Fig Leaves & Fairy Tales, Blunders & Buffoons;

43. Attack Ads and American Presidential Politics;

44. Dante and the Spin Doctors;

45. Democratic Realism;

46. Bang, Bang - Democracy’s Dead: Obama and the Politics of Gun Control;

47. Fig Leaves and Fairy Tales: Political Promises and the ‘truth-o-meter’;

48. Disengaged Britain: ‘Don’t vote, it just encourages the B***ards’;

49. The Blunders of Our Governments;

50. Dear Maria Miller, it really wasn’t all your fault;

51. Bring me a scapegoat to destroy: Babies, Blame and Bargains;

The Last Post: Professors & Irrelevance, Standing - Up & Sitting Down;

52. Explaining Political Disaffection: Closing the Expectations Gap;

53. Politics Without Vision;

54. Dangerous Minds;

55. Claims of increasing irrelevance of universities are ideology masquerading as evidence;

56. The Dismal Debate;

57. Post-Truth, Post-Political, Post-Democracy;

58. A Talent for Politics? The ‘Great Scholar, Poor Politician’ Thesis;

59. Standing Up and Shaping the Agenda;

60. Welcom to the Year of Living Dangerously;

A Special Delivery: 'So, What type of Democracy is this?'