American Exceptionalism Revisited, 2015 US Political Development in Comparative Perspective

American Exceptionalism Revisited provides a broad overview of the various features that signify American politics. These include the upholding of an exceptional political stability, involving a particular balance between legislative, executive and judicial powers, and the permanence of a unique party system. Furthermore, special traits in the electoral realm?e.g., voter turnout, the inflow of money, and the application of primaries?are targets of analysis. Through comparisons with conditions applying abroad, particularly in Europe and Latin America, Axel Hadenius reveals a number of new insights on American political life, both today and over time

1. Introduction 2. The United States of America: A Special Newcomer among States 3. A State Out of Sight Which Became Increasingly Visible 4. Congress, President and Parties: Shifting Roles 5. Political Power of Courts: Judicial Supremacy, with Restrictions 6. Three (Less-observed) Things about Elections 7. Direct-Democratic Elements 8. Conclusion: Special American Attributes

Axel Hadenius is Professor of Political Science at Uppsala University, Sweden, and has been a Research Fellow and Visiting Professor at several American universities, such as University of California at Berkeley and University of Notre Dame. His most notable works include Democracy and Development (1992) and "Pathways from Authoritarianism" (with Jan Teorell) in the Journal of Democracy (2007).