A new state, an old democracy. Thirteen colonies-"provinces" of the British crown, which became the strongest power in the world. A quasi-monarchical model of elected authority, chosen as a symbol of national identity and as a counterbalance to the powers of the hereditary ruler of the metropolis.

A weak and multiply delineated central authority, headed by a powerful president, the only essentially national elected body of a federal political structure. A country, also, often eager to demonstrate power, but always ready for sacrifices to liberal idealism.

A society, finally, with countless identities, diversities, and multifaceted biodiversity, which, however, almost always expressed itself politically through only two dominant political forces. This work attempts to interpret these peculiarities of the U.S. political system, particularly its consistently bipartisan character.

Additionally, in a key appendix, the author explores the feasibility, possibility, and prerequisites of "transplanting" the presidential model of democracy to our country.

[Excerpt from the text on the back cover of the edition]