A bold rethinking of the most powerful political idea in the world—demacy—as seen through the lens of the most transformative political movements of our time and the story of how radical demacy can yet transform America

Demacy has been the American religion since before the Revolution—from New England town halls to the multicultural demacy of Atlantic pirate ships. But can our current political system, one that seems responsive only to the wealthiest among us and leaves most Americans feeling disengaged, voiceless, and disenfranchised, really be called dematic? And if the tools of our demacy are not working to solve the rising crises we face, how can we—average citizens—make change happen?

David Graeber, one of the most influential scholars and activists of his generation, offers the perfect book to address these urgent questions. Beginning with the most recent dematic activist movements in America and abroad, he takes readers on a journey through the idea of demacy, provocatively reorienting our understanding of pivotal historical moments, and extracts their lessons for today—from the birth of Athenian demacy and the founding of the United States of America to the global revolutions of the twentieth century and the rise of a new generation of activists. Underlying it all is a bracing argument that in the face of increasingly concentrated wealth and power in this country, a reenergized, reconceived demacy—one based on consensus, equality, and broad participation—can yet provide us with the just, free, and fair society we want.

Reinventing Demacy tells the story of the resilience of the dematic spirit and the adaptability of the dematic idea. It offers a fresh take on vital history and an impassioned argument that radical demacy is, more than ever, our best hope.

From the Hardcover edition.