Democracy for Realists: Why Elections Do Not Produce Responsive Governments

Professors Christopher Achen and Larry Bartels provide scads of evidence in Democracy for Realists to support their theory that citizens do not guide politics through the voting booth. They argue that the outcomes of elections are essentially random, resulting from events outside of the politician’s control. Achen and Bartels are both longtime Princeton professors and authors of multiple books.

Paw in print

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PAW's July/August 2025 issue cover, featuring a photo of people dressed in orange and black, marching in the P-rade, and the headline: Reunions, Back in Orange & Black.
The Latest Issue

July 2025

On the cover: Wilton Virgo ’00 and his classmates celebrate during the P-rade.