Politics in the Age of Austerity

"Poses (very well) the questions that will shape our world for many years to come." European Voice "Nothing less than a novel, comprehensive and syncretic analysis of what has changed in the relationship between capitalism and democracy over the past thirty years - and into the future." Philippe C. Schmitter, European University Institute "Insightful and engaging, the essays in this volume cover a remarkably wide range of topics related to the fundamental question of our time: what happens to democracy when governments have so little fiscal room to manoeuvre? A great read that will inspire new thinking and research." Jonus Pontusson, University of Geneva " Politics in the Age of Austerity is a hugely important contribution to the contemporary literature on the political economy of the advanced capitalist countries. Featuring a series of penetrating essays by some of the field's foremost theorists, the book offers a powerful -- and sobering -- picture of the dilemmas and constraints that governments face as they seek to reconcile the increasingly conflicting demands of two constituencies -- voters and 'the markets'. As such, it sheds new light on the enduring question of the evolving relationship between democracy and capitalism." Kathleen Thelen, MIT