Democracy for Sale

The Sunday Times bestseller.'A compulsively readable, carefully researched account of how a malignant combination of rightwing ideology, secretive money (much of it from the US) and weaponisation of social media have shaped contemporary British (and to a limited extent, European) politics... Remarkable' Observer, Book of the Week Democracy is in crisis, and unaccountable and untraceable flows of money are helping to destroy it. This is the story of how money, vested interests and digital skulduggery are eroding trust in democracy. Antiquated electoral laws are broken with impunity, secretive lobbying is bending our politics out of shape and Silicon Valley tech giants collude in selling out democracy. Politicians lie gleefully, making wild claims that can be shared instantly with millions on social media.Peter Geoghegan is a diligent, brilliant guide through the shadowy world of dark money and digital disinformation stretching from Westminster to Washington, and far beyond.Praise for Democracy for Sale:'Thorough, gripping and vitally important' Oliver Bullough'A brilliant description of the dark underbelly of modern democracy. Everyone should read it' Anne Applebaum'A compelling and very readable story of the ongoing corruption of our government and therefore ourselves' Anthony Barnett'As urgent as it is illuminating' Fintan O'Toole'This urgent, vital book is essential reading for anyone who wants to make sense of our politics' Carole Cadwalladr'This forensic and highly readable book shows how so many of our democratic processes have moved into the murky, unregulated spaces of globalisation and digital innovation' Peter Pomerantsev'A call to arms for all those who value democracy' The Herald'Geoghegan's words are those of someone who is prepared to keep fighting to defend and revitalise what shadows of democracy still remain'Scotsman

“'Peter Geoghegan is one of our best investigative journalists; his work is careful, sober, non-sensational, and terrifying. Democracy for Sale forensically exposes the fault lines in our politics, and reveals how they have been exploited by the rich and the powerful to further their own interests. If you're concerned about the health of British democracy, read this book - it is thorough, gripping and vitally important' Oliver Bullough, author of Moneyland .”

Democracy for Sale forensically exposes the fault lines in our politics, and reveals how they have been exploited by the rich and the powerful to further their own interests -- Oliver Bullough, author of Moneyland
Forensic and highly readable -- Peter Pomerantsev, author of This is Not Propaganda
As urgent as it is illuminating' Fintan O -- Toole, author of Heroic Failure
A compelling and very readable story of the ongoing corruption of our government and therefore ourselves -- Anthony Barnett, author of Iron Britannia
A brilliant description of the dark underbelly of modern democracy: dark money, influence games and the new tactics of the new far-right. Everyone should read it -- Anne Applebaum, author of Gulag
Peter Geoghegan's investigations into Brexit have been essential reading. Now this urgent, vital book is essential reading for anyone who wants to make sense of our politics -- Carole Cadwalladr
Investigative journalist and Big Issue contributor Peter Geoghegan has followed the money to uncover the story of how undisclosed donations have infiltrated British politics, undermining public faith in democracy and fuelling the rise of populism across the West Big Issue
Peter Geoghegan's absorbing and disturbing new book is a call to arms for all those who value democracy... [It is] meticulously researched and highly readable' -- Herald
A damning insight into the dark money which underpins huge areas of global politics... A dispiriting read, exposing a rot which seems to have spread throughout politics across the western world and whose stranglehold appears to be growing. This is was makes it so vital... Geoghegan's words are those of someone who is prepared to keep fighting to defend and revitalise what shadows of democracy still remain' Scotsman
A fine book. It's a compulsively readable, carefully researched account of how a malignant combination of rightwing ideology, secretive money (much of it from the US) and weaponisation of social media have shaped contemporary British (and to a limited extent, European) politics... [A] remarkable book' Observer.
Its lucid and compelling narrative explores the likes of disinformation, propaganda, and the way in which technology's rapid evolution renders legislative and regulatory frameworks redundant. At the heart of it all, of course, is money, and Geoghegan offers a perceptive analysis of how the US and British systems differ, and how they compare Scotsman
We are only at the beginning of understanding how the 21st-century confluence of opaque money, extreme politics and digital technology has frayed our democracy. This book is an important part of that process. We are a long way from having viable solutions, but we owe a debt to relentless journalists like Geoghegan for starting the work of rooting out the source of stench before it overwhelms us irish Times Weekend
A shocking story of how money, vested interests and digital skulduggery are eroding trust in democracy – and a powerful account of what must be done about it Irish Times Weekend
[Democracy for Sale] should be the most discussed political book of the year. It is by turns balanced, authoritative, revelatory and scandalous. As the web and unsourced money twist elections, the subject could not be more urgent Observer
A damning insight into the dark money which underpins huge areas of global politics... Enlightening and alarming... Geoghegan's words are those of someone who is prepared to keep fighting to defend and revitalise what shadows of democracy still remain' Scotsman
A very timely treatise on what technology allied to dark money can achieve. Released last year in print, it is only just available on audio with author Peter Geoghegan doing a fine job of narrating Irish Examiner
Excellent National
Solidly investigative and highly readable New Internationalist
I urge people to read it and reflect National
This is what you've been waiting for if you want a clear, jargon-free, exhaustively detailed and wonderfully readable book that explains the bizarre nature of British 'democracy' and the farce that is 'The Mother of all Parliaments'. It's no exaggeration to say that Peter Geoghegan's remorseless analysis [...] is among the very finest guides to the Cayman Islands-on-the-Channel that the UK is becoming Chartist

Peter Geoghegan is an Irish writer, broadcaster and investigations editor at the award-winning news website openDemocracy. He led openDemocracy's investigations into dark money in British politics that were nominated for a 2019 British Journalism award and the Paul Foot award. His journalism has appeared in the New York Times, the Guardian, the London Review of Books and many other publications. His last book, The People's Referendum: Why Scotland Will Never Be the Same Again, was nominated for the Saltire First Book Award.

This item is eligible for free returns within 30 days of delivery. See our returns policy for further details.