David J. Samuels Book order

From the 2023 Reith lecturer Politics is failing us. This is why. 'Brilliant . . . a must-read' Daron Acemoglu, co-author of Why Nations Fail When it comes to politics, there are five goals that voters generally agree upon. We all want a say in how we're governed, to be treated equally, a safety net when times are hard, protection from harm and to be richer in the future. So, why does politics not deliver that? The problem is each of these five goals results in a political trap. For example, we all want a say in how we're governed, but it's impossible to have any true 'will of the people'. And we want to be richer tomorrow, but what makes us richer in the short run makes us poorer over the long haul. In Why Politics Fails, award-winning Oxford professor Ben Ansell draws on examples from Ancient Greece through Brexit to vividly illustrate how we can escape these traps, overcome self-interest and deliver on our collective goals. Politics seems to be broken, but this book shows how it can work for everyone. 'A meticulous study of how different societies find it so difficult to achieve widely shared goals' Financial Times 'Incisive and gripping' Daniel Ziblatt, co-author of How Democracies Die 'Salutary reading for the world we live in now' James A. Robinson, co-author of Why Nations Fails

Observers believe few Brazilian voters identify with a political party and, instead, base their choices only on candidates' personal qualities. The authors show that this conventional wisdom is wrong. Many Brazilians have developed a strong affinity for or against a party - which plays an underappreciated role in explaining voter behavior.

A Guide to Probate, Wills and The Law, Revised is a concise and informative guide to all the processes that underpin the practice of formulating a last will and testament and to the law and practice of probate and applying for probate in the event of a death. The book is designed for those people who wish to manage their own affairs in the event of a death and to understand more about the law concerning this complex area.

A Guide to Probate, Wills and The Law, Revised Edition, is a concise and informative guide to all the processes that underpin the practice of formulating a last will and testament and to the law and practice of probate and applying for probate in the event of a death. The book is designed for those people who wish to manage their own affairs in advance of the event of their death.

This book offers a new theory of the historical relationship between economic modernization and the emergence of democracy on a global scale.

David J. Samuels and Matthew S. Shugart provide the first systematic analysis of how democratic constitutional design shapes party politics.

Examining the interplay between political institutions and the career aspirations of politicians, this book delves into how these factors shape governance and policy-making. It offers insights into the motivations driving political behavior and the implications for institutional effectiveness, providing a nuanced understanding of the dynamics within political systems.