Realigners

From Alexander Hamilton to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: an eye-opening reassessment of the people who built America's political coalitions and transformed democracy. Realigners, named one of The Wall Street Journal's best political books of 2022, offers a provocative new look at American political history. Timothy Shenk traces the evolution of the nation's politics from the drafting of the Constitution to the storming of the Capitol, delivering sharp portraits of key figures like James Madison, Charles Sumner, Phyllis Schlafly, and Barack Obama along the way. In an era of widespread dissatisfaction with American democracy, Shenk explores how the gulf between elites and ordinary people has turned democracy itself into a contested concept. He examines the urges to both defend and dismantle the country's foundations, which often coexist within the same people. Through this engaging narrative, Shenk reassesses the leaders who built the electoral coalitions that defined American democracy. He offers valuable insights for our current moment, as figures ranging from Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez to MAGA-minded nationalists seek to turn radical dreams into political realities. If there's an escape from the doom loop that American politics has become, Realigners suggests it lies in understanding the transformative moments of the past – and the potential for another such moment in our future. The result is a vital work of political history, rendering present-day strife intelligible as never before.