Following the economic meltdown and the triumph of Barack Obama, have the chances of genuine democracy improved? In this updated edition of the No-Nonsense Guide to Democracy, Richard Swift considers the different tools people in power have used to manipulate democratic principles, such as freedom, to their advantage. The book includes chapter-length discussions of topics such as the economic meltdown, Barack Obama, eco-democracy, democratizing the economy and democracy in the global south. It is also a guide to the rich diversity of forms of elected government and contains practical ideas for empowering today's voters around the world.