America's democracy is the oldest in the modern world and boasts an impressive continuity—yet with the presidency of Donald Trump, it has entered an existential crisis. In his brilliantly written book, Manfred Berg traces the eventful and fascinating history of American democracy from its origins to our present day, characterized by extreme polarization in politics and society.

American democracy is the historical heart of liberal values—its courage to self-determination continues to inspire democracies worldwide. From colonial self-government to the immediate present under Trump, Manfred Berg takes a critical look at the history of American democracy. One of the foremost experts on the USA shows how America's democracy has unfolded between aspiration and reality, self-image and global impact—and how it is under pressure today. He illuminates the contradictions, myths, and global consequences of a political model that oscillates between exemplary and cautionary tale. This is a historically grounded perspective on the current political crisis, which also affects Europe, and an initial assessment of Donald Trump's second term.

biography

Manfred Berg, born in 1954, a horticultural technician working in experimental departments at the Federal Biological Research Centre in Berlin-Dahlem, has been regularly observing native spiders and insects in their natural habitats since childhood. He has a particular interest in the European mantis (Mantis religiosa).

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