Putting People Back in Politics

About the Book

Since 2016, millions of Americans have demonstrated, organized and contributed in the cause of political change. Some have been effective; most are wasting their time. While there are few clear rules of political efficacy, there are techniques of campaigning, agitating and lobbying that manifestly work better than others. Making the works of scholars and practitioners accessible to activists, what I have tried to show is how real reform is possible when we put ordinary people back into politics. More than a book of how to do it, it shows why a new politics of interpersonal engagement can help renew our democratic system. Schneier’s books are always sophisticated and readable, appealing not only to undergraduate students but also to activists and people with a general interest in politics. Here he smoothly blends the insights of academics with those of campaign professionals and politicians. Putting People Back in Politics is must reading for people concerned that the long-term future of American democracy may be determined by the 2020 election and who want to do something about it. —Ken Sherrill, Professor Emeritus of Political Science, Hunter College How can we put everyday people at the center of our politics? Ned Schneier not only tells us how, but why it is crucial to counter big money to reform an increasingly dysfunctional political system. From simple but meaningful conversations with neighbors to effective get-out-the-vote efforts to mass mobilizations, Schneier packs a remarkable amount of experience, research and wisdom into a slim and highly readable book. Want to help create the world we want? Read this book now. It will help us forge viable pathways towards a desirable 21st century. A must read for anyone seeking to make a difference in 2020 and beyond! —Ron Hayduk, Professor of Political Science, San Francisco State University

About the Author

Edward (Ned) Schneier has taught political science at Colgate, Columbia, Johns Hopkins and the City College of New York. His ten previous books include Vote Power (Doubleday, 1974), Congress Today (St. Martin’s, 1993), and New York Politics (M.E. Sharpe, 2010). Dr. Schneier has worked in the U. S. Senate and New York State Assembly; been president of Democratic clubs in California, New Jersey and New York; was a part-time lobbyist; and ran for Congress in 1976. In line with a New York political tradition he was a partner in two New York City saloons: Puffy’s and Grassroots. The recipient of fellowships from the Brookings Institution, the Fulbright Foundation, and the National Endowment for the Humanities, he lives with his wife Margrit in upstate New York.