Why read The Deep Roots of Modern Democracy?

Book cover of The Deep Roots of Modern Democracy: Geography and the Diffusion of Political Institutions

Book description

This book explores the deep roots of modern democracy, focusing on geography and long-term patterns of global diffusion. Its geographic argument centers on access to the sea, afforded by natural harbors which enhance the mobility of people, goods, capital, and ideas. The extraordinary connectivity of harbor regions thereby affected economic…

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Why read it?

1 author picked The Deep Roots of Modern Democracy as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Rick Szostak

Author

The book makes a detailed and novel argument for the importance of natural harbors in history.

Not surprisingly, such places tended to attract merchants. Less obviously, these merchants encouraged more communal forms of governance than characterized agricultural lands.

Europe has more natural harbors than other continents, and these played a larger role in European political development. I found the line of argument very persuasive.

From Rick's 3 favorite reads in 2023.