AMERICAN DEMOCRACY IN THEORY AND PRACTICE. THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

by Robert K. Carr '29, DonaldH. Morrison, Marver H. Bernstein, RichardC. Snyder. Published by Rinehart & Co.,Inc., 1951, 1094 pp. $5.00.

For some years now the resemblance between leading college textbooks in American government and a well-documented seed catalogue has been remarkably coincidental. With somewhat delayed acumen publishers have recently been offering a new bill of fare. American Democracy in Theory and Practice is one of the latest offerings. In this reviewer's judgment, it is easily one of the best. Professor Robert K. Carr '29 and Dean Donald H. Morrison of the Dartmouth faculty in collaboration with two colleagues of the Princeton faculty have synthesized two approaches to their subject, weaving structure and operation into a fabric of principles, concepts, and problems. In this admirable and difficult endeavor they have been unusually successful. Their contrapuntal treatment of themes provides more emphasis on purposes, issues, relationships, dynamics; less emphasis on the bare bones of institutional description.

The authors approach government as a complex inter-related process rather than as a series of compartments. Process rather than status is the focal point. The usual materials on the institutional and technical devices of American government are incorporated in discussions of the broad areas of policy formulation, policy implementation, and the grass roots of the political process (suffrage, elections, parties, pressure groups). There is an extensive section on the socio-economic functions of government, and on national security and foreign policy.

As one would expect with Professor Carr as a co-author, there is a more extended and competent examination of the function of law, the administration of justice, and civil liberties than is usually available in an American government textbook. Throughout the book the authors range over a rich array of illustrative material. There are extensive bibliographical notes at the end of each chapter, particularly Professor Morrison's chapters.

One could argue mildly that the policymaking role of the executive and administrative agencies is more significant than is indicated in the section dealing with the formulation of policy. Some might regard the chapter on the Meaning of Democracy as too skeletal, given the importance and complexity of the subject as a major introductory theme. Apparently the publishers never really read their own books; otherwise they would not have printed this one in such small type.

The book is a fine product of competent, cooperative authorship. It should enjoy wide popularity.