This volume begins with a series of essays by Michael P. Auerbach. In the first two, Auerbach analyzes authoritarian governments (or regimes that seek to control the lives of each constituent) and religious governments (or leaderships where religion plays an active role in national administration). After detailing these two systems, Auerbach points out the “stark differences between national governments who fly the flag of democracy” and discusses two democratic perspectives: the pluralist perspective and the elitist perspective. In his analysis of the pluralist perspective, Auerbach illustrates how this particular viewpoint applies most appropriately to the United States government, which truly represents the will of the people. With regard to the elitist perspective, Auerbach draws on the ideas of Joseph Schumpeter by suggesting that modern democracies serve only the interests of the elite. The next essay focuses on the importance of citizenship rights and how “the core of a democratic government’s effectiveness (and longevity) is its ability to protect the rights of the multitude of diverse social groups under its charge.” Building off of Auerbach’s essays, Sinclair Nicholas offers some observations on the current crossroads of government and the United States in particular, as it struggles to maintain welfare policies and programs.