By the Democracy & Society Staff

The list of books from current and former Democracy and Governance students and faculty make for terrific gifts for anyone interested in elections, development, democracy in the world, and politics more broadly. We wish you have a lovely holiday season!

Elton Skendaj, Program Director

“The Assault on the State: How the Global Attack on Modern Government Endangers Our Future” by Stephen E. Hanson and Jeffrey S. Kopstein

The book questions the rise of neopatrimonial states in both postcommunist societies and modern Western societies. The focus on democratic erosion is making us less likely to notice the attacks of the administrative state by elected officials in the West. Such attacks on merit-based bureaucracies undermine the implementation of our shared goals of service provision and democratic accountability. This should be a required reading for students and professionals working in the field of democracy assistance, rule of law, and international affairs.

Zak Schneider (Class of 2026)

“On Freedom” by Timothy Snyder

I liked it especially because of its applicability to the kinds of discussions we are supposed to have surrounding what the word “Freedom” means. Freedom is not just a negative characteristic “Freedom From.” There is also this crucial element of positive living that Snyder chooses to focus on. 

Alex Szlabowicz (Class of 2025)

“The new politics of Poland: A case of post-traumatic sovereignty” by Jaroslaw Kuisz 

The new politics of Poland offers great insight into the rise of the right-wing PiS party in Poland. Furthermore, the book analyzes many of the ways PiS has implemented policies that play into “post-traumatic sovereignty.” It is a very fascinating book for anyone interested in modern Polish politics. 

Jack Santucci (Class of 2009)

“Populism: A Very Short Introduction” by Cas Mudde and Cristóbal Rovira Kaltwasser

The proposed framework for understanding populism helps us distinguish ‘left’ from ‘right’ kinds. It also helps us think about whether populism is fundamentally ‘good’ or ‘bad.’

Deng Liu (Class of 2026)

“Heyday: Britain and the Birth of the Modern World” by Ben Wilson

This book made efforts to fill the vacuum of history and political research about the late 19th century. It combined the optimism from technology and ideological achievements with the negative effects of national-conflict and colonization. Wilson wrote about this history with interesting stories and demotic language, makes it easy to read and understand. 

Joseph Wozniak  (Class of 2026)

“With God in Russia” by Fr. Walter Ciszek

Fr. Walter Ciszek was a Polish-American Jesuit priest who spent nearly a quarter-century languishing in a Soviet gulag due to his work as a dissident. This is a book that also encourages critical reflection because one can draw parallels between his religiously-infused blend of civil disobedience and the Solidarity movement in Poland.