Alexander Keyssar

This comprehensive history of the franchise is a solid, well-written analysis of who has the right to vote in free, regular elections, which is an integral component of our democratic republic, who is allowed to excercise this privilege and under what circumstances; and how and by whom the votes are counted. Keyssar explores these issues of political philosophy, social theory, power, and public policy in an engaging manner, although it is clear he has a progressive leanings. Keyssar seems to agree with Marx that politics is about class struggle, and the utopian visions of representative democracy collapse in this struggle. I read part of this book years ago, but in this most contentious political season of my lifetime, it was worth reading the whole book.… (mere)