Direct democracy is on the rise in America, according to recent research on referendum, initiative, and recall. This book presents a qualitative analysis of America's current trend toward populism. By tracing the intellectual origins of present populist movements, Michael P. Federici explores the extent to which such movements complement the American Constitutional tradition. In particular, he analyzes post-World War II, right-wing populism--its emergence, characteristics, and historical roots. Throughout this work, Federici reflects on the meaning of democracy; he warns that right-wing populism is not compatible with the American Constitutional tradition.

Federici distinguishes between two types of democracy--constitutional and plebiscitary--which have opposed each other since the time of America's founding fathers. He believes this larger debate must be explored in order to understand the current rise of populism in the United States. Federici argues that plebiscitary democracy is strongly related to populism and that it presents a challenge to the Constitutional tradition. He uncovers the roots of right-wing populism in three arenas: economics, religion, and foreign policy. This book offers important insights for journalists, students, and scholars of American history, social movements, sociology, and democracy.

This collection of thirteen original essays by Orestes Augustus Brownson (1803–1876), a major political and philosophical figure in the American Catholic intellectual tradition, presents his developed political theory in which he devotes central attention to connecting Catholicism to American politics. These writings, which date from 1856 to 1874, cover not only his conversion to Catholicism after experimenting with a variety of religious and political beliefs but also slavery, the Civil War, Reconstruction, the era of Jacksonian democracy, and a host of social, political, and economic issues. During this time, Brownson became one of the nation’s leading thinkers and critics. Although faced with a dominant Protestant culture, Brownson argued for a political and social culture influenced by his deeply held Catholic faith. He defended Catholicism from the common charge that it was incompatible with American constitutionalism and, in fact, argued that it was the only spiritually viable foundation for American politics. He defended the political theory and institutions of the American framers, applauding their realistic view of human nature and the importance of both virtue in political leaders and checks and restraints in their constitutional structures. He opposed the rising influence of populist democracy by explaining its flawed assumptions about human nature and the possibilities of politics. Michael P. Federici's well-written introduction situates these essays within a coherent theme and explains how these essays are especially relevant to contemporary debates about populism, race, American exceptionalism, and the relationship between religion and politics. The book will interest students and scholars of American political thought, as well as those with an interest in religion and politics.