Peter Beattie, Social Evolution, Political Psychology, and the Media in Democracy: The Invisible Hand in the U.S. Marketplace of Ideas

Abstract

In Social Evolution, Political Psychology, and the Media in Democracy: The Invisible Hand in the U.S. Marketplace of Ideas, Peter Beattie brings to the reader some compelling insights into why democracy, at least as currently represented in the political affairs of the United States, is not functioning well, how news media are implicated, and what may be a way for them to live up to their presumed role as the “fourth estate,” or as the author seems to prefer identifying as the “fourth branch of government.” Moving from the problem to a solution, Beattie draws on variety of material deriving from biological and social evolutionary theory, social psychology, and history, among other disciplines, that is not only informative, but intellectually engaging as well. One could easily see the examination as disjointed, but, in fact, with patience, he or she will come to appreciate the level of coherence the author actually exhibits in his analysis.