Bruce Bueno de Mesquita on Reagan, Yeltsin, and the Strategy of Political Campaigning

This New York Times bestseller compiles Ronald Reagan's personal writings from throughout his life, including over a thousand radio addresses he penned himself in longhand during the 1970s. The book reveals Reagan as the author of his own ideas on public policy, foreign affairs, and domestic issues, acting as a one-man think tank. Editors Skinner, Anderson, and Anderson faithfully reproduce his notes, complete with spelling mistakes and edits, providing definitive proof of his intellectual depth and consistent principles.

In this influential book, William H. Riker illustrates the 'heresthetic art' of political strategy, showing how politicians manipulate choices, agendas, and votes to achieve desired outcomes. Drawing on examples like Lincoln's debates with Douglas and the defeat of the Equal Rights Amendment in Virginia, Riker demonstrates how ordinary tactics and parliamentary tricks can sway political results. The concluding chapter synthesizes these tales into a new theory explaining why manipulation succeeds in politics.

William Riker's "Liberalism Against Populism" is a significant work in political science that explores the tensions between liberal democracy and populist movements. Riker analyzes the inherent challenges of collective decision-making and the potential for majority rule to infringe on individual rights. He contrasts a liberal approach that emphasizes individual rights and limited government with a populist approach that prioritizes the will of the majority. The book's insights remain relevant in contemporary debates about the nature of democracy and the role of popular sovereignty.