Promises Made, Promises Kept? : Democratic Politics in a Globalized World

Offering insights into the constraints political leaders face, the rise of populist rhetoric, and the future of democratic politics amid global pressures, this book will appeal to readers interested in democracy, globalization, and political accountability. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Using an innovative mix of cross-national analyses, original survey experiments, and detailed case studies across advanced democracies, Promises Made, Promises Kept provides a compelling exploration of how globalization constrains domestic politics and transforms the nature of democratic representation. The authors show how globalization reduces the ability of governing parties to keep their campaign promises, and how parties strategically adapt to this by making vaguer promises or shifting their rhetoric to manage voter expectations. These adaptations have significant consequences: they reshape democratic competition and have contributed to the growing appeal of populist messaging. This timely and accessible book offers fresh insight into why promises are broken, how parties adapt under pressure, and what this means for voters, institutions, and the future of democratic politics. Essential reading for anyone concerned with the health of democracy in an interdependent world. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.