To Keep the Republic
Thinking, Talking, and Acting Like a Democratic Citizen

Elizabeth C. Matto (Author), Governor Christine Todd Whitman (Foreword by)

9781978829718

Hardback, published 12 April 2024

226 pages, 11 B-W images
20.3 x 12.7 x 2 cm, 0.05 kg

“To Keep the Republic is an idea-rich book about civic life that aims to inspire and guide action, not just explain history and government.” - Peter Levine (author of What Should We Do?: A Theory of Civic Life) “The work of civic education is more important than ever, and Dr. Matto is one of the most respected scholars and voices in her field. A timely and valuable contribution, To Keep the Republic is poised to offer much useful experience and wisdom in an unprecedented period in American democracy.” - Elizabeth Beaumont (author of The Civic Constitution: Civic Visions and Struggles in the Path Toward Constitutional Demo)

American democracy is at an inflection point. With voting rights challenged, election results undermined, and even the US Capitol violently attacked, many Americans feel powerless to save their nation’s democratic institutions from the forces dismantling them. Yet, as founders like Benjamin Franklin knew from the start, the health of America’s democracy depends on the actions its citizens are willing to take to preserve it. 
 
To Keep the Republic is a wake-up call about the responsibilities that come with being a citizen in a participatory democracy. It describes the many ways that individuals can make a difference on both local and national levels-and explains why they matter. Political scientist Elizabeth C. Matto highlights the multiple facets of democratic citizenship, identifies American democracy’s sometimes competing values and ideals, and explains how civic engagement can take various forms, including political conversation. Combining political philosophy with concrete suggestions for how to become a more engaged citizen, To Keep the Republic reminds us that democracy is not a spectator sport; it only works when we get off the sidelines and enter the political arena to make our voices heard.