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Cited by 1,349Political Theory and DemocracyElectoral Systems and Political ParticipationPublic Policy and Administration Research

Stealth Democracy: Americans' Beliefs About How Government Should Work

Hibbing, John R., Theiss-Morse, Elizabeth·2002·Cambridge University Press eBooks
DOI 10.1017/cbo9780511613722
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Abstract

Americans often complain about the operation of their government, but scholars have never developed a complete picture of people's preferred type of government. In this provocative and timely book, Hibbing and Theiss-Morse, employing an original national survey and focus groups, report the governmental procedures Americans desire. Contrary to the prevailing view that people want greater involvement in politics, most citizens do not care about most policies and therefore are content to turn over decision-making authority to someone else. People's wish for the political system is that decision makers be empathetic and, especially, non-self-interested, not that they be responsive and accountable to the people's largely nonexistent policy preferences or, even worse, that the people be obligated to participate directly in decision making. Hibbing and Theiss-Morse conclude by cautioning communitarians, direct democrats, social capitalists, deliberation theorists, and all those who think that greater citizen involvement is the solution to society's problems.

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Crossref · 10.1017/cbo9780511613722

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  • Hibbing and Theiss-Morse (2002) found that a majority of Americans were willing to have major policy decisions in government made by experts rather than through the normal politicized procedures.

    “In studying what they called ' stealth democracy ' Hibbing and Theiss-Morse (2002) found that a majority of Americans were willing to have major policy decisions in government made by experts rather than through the normal politicized procedures.”

    From The Guardian State: Strengthening the public service against democratic backsliding (2024) · cites this paper as Hibbing and Theiss-Morse (2002)

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Sorted by citations

Authors
Hibbing, J. R., & Theiss-Morse, E.
Affiliations
University of Nebraska–Lincoln (US)
ORCID
Hibbing, John R.
Venue
Cambridge University Press eBooks
Publisher
Cambridge University Press
Published
2002-08-29
DOI
10.1017/cbo9780511613722
OpenAlex
W4254028910
Cited by
1,349
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 99 · 2025: 67 · 2024: 65 · 2023: 53 · 2022: 87 · 2021: 78 · 2020: 131 · 2019: 68 · 2018: 91 · 2017: 55 · 2016: 60 · 2015: 60 · 2014: 56 · 2013: 54 · 2012: 54
FWCI
40.00
Type
book
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
www.cambridge.org/core/terms (unspecified, 2643 d)
Locations
Cambridge University Press eBooks (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Political Theory and Democracy
  • Social Sciences › Political Science and International Relations › Electoral Systems and Political Participation
  • Social Sciences › Public Administration › Public Policy and Administration Research
Keywords
citizen participation, political participation, policy preferences, decision-making power, direct democracy, communitarianism, social capital, American public opinion

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