William Cooper '04

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A book by William Cooper '04, "How America Works and Why it Doesn't: A Brief Guide to the US Political System," will be published in July. His previous book, "Stress Test: How Donald Trump Threatens American Democracy," was published in 2022.

Cooper's new book is described as "An accessible guide to the U.S. political system which provides a rational and compelling explanation of the ongoing threat to American democracy.

"This brief guide to U.S. politics provides a non-partisan assessment of the ongoing challenges faced by American democracy, not least from Trump and his supporters.

"Cooper explains key aspects of recent US political history to give the background to recent, dangerous developments, including how political groups have reshaped since the 1964 Civil Rights Act; the rise of Newt Gingrich and the Tea Party; the profound impact of the internet and social media; and the threats posed to the electoral system by the growth of extreme polarization and growing irrationality.

"Cooper shows how these recent developments have their roots in the deeper past, with the establishment of the political system in the first place and all the knocks and tweaks to it along the way. He also reveals how, as a result of increasing politicization, the U.S. Supreme Court is now exacerbating polarization instead of acting as an effective check on executive power."

Read Cooper's previous UCLA Alumni class note here.