Green Shoots of Democracy

“Every Philadelphian —make that anyone interested in democratic engagement and transparent governance—should read this book by a veteran Democratic Party committeeperson. A rigorous, completely absorbing case study of Philadelphia’s political structure, the book is both an insider’s guide and a primer on taking back the party. Frank in her assessments of the past and present, Bojar offers a seductive vision of a future party, transformed from the bottom up, and entreats readers to put down the book and make it happen.”
—Belinda Davis, Professor of History, Rutgers University

Drawing on the experiences of grassroots political activists from different socio- economic and ethnic backgrounds, Green Shoots of Democracy explores how self-identified progressives manage (or fail to manage) to work within a big city political machine. Although the book focuses on the work of progressives to foster democracy and transparency within the Philadelphia Democratic Party, lessons gleaned from their experiences are applicable beyond Philadelphia.

Americans have long had a history of volunteerism; however, grassroots partisan politics is often not considered a worthy volunteer endeavor—not as worthy as, for example, working in a homeless shelter or a literacy center. Green Shoots of Democracy argues for a more democratic, transparent party structure—one that is sorely needed to counter the widespread perception that electoral politics is dirty business rather than an honorable civic project.

Author: Karen Bojar

Publication Date: August 2, 2016

Categories: Fall 2016, Non-fiction

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About the Author

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“Every Philadelphian —make that anyone interested in democratic engagement and transparent governance—should read this book by a veteran Democratic Party committeeperson. A rigorous, completely absorbing case study of Philadelphia’s political structure, the book is both an insider’s guide and a primer on taking back the party. Frank in her assessments of the past and present, Bojar offers a seductive vision of a future party, transformed from the bottom up, and entreats readers to put down the book and make it happen.”
—Belinda Davis, Professor of History, Rutgers University

“Karen Bojar’s Green Shoots of Democracy is based on her deep knowledge of Philadelphia politics and on extensive interviews with Democratic activists. It is enriched by experience and by keen sociological intelligence. She follows her excellent explanation of the byzantine ward system of Philadelphia and its perpetuation with the patient struggles to bring forth what Paul Wellstone called the ‘democratic wing of the Democratic Party.’ Bojar shows with acute political understanding that there may still be reasons to believe in electoral politics―not as the essence of democracy but as an indispensable road toward it.”
—Magali Sarfatti-Larson, Professor Emerita of Sociology, Temple University

“Green Shoots of Democracy argues that the Democratic Party must be genuinely democratic and transparent on the grassroots level if it is to be a force for change on the national level. Based on interviews with progressive committeepeople and ward leaders who have been willing to talk candidly about their experiences working within the ward system, Bojar’s analysis of strategies to encourage voter participation and a voice for committeepeople is applicable to a broad range of political philosophies—a must read for anyone interested in grassroots politics.”
—Chris Rabb, Social Justice Activist, Adjunct Professor, Institute for Strategic Leadership, Drexel University, author of Invisible Capital: How Unseen Forces Shape Entrepreneurial Opportunity

About the Author

Dr. Karen Bojar is Professor Emerita of English and women’s studies at the Community College of Philadelphia. She is a longtime Democratic Party activist and has served as a Democratic committeeperson for the past thirty years. She also has a long history as a feminist activist and served as President of the Philadelphia chapter of the National Organization for Women from 2001–2009. She continues to be involved in Philadelphia NOW and in Philadelphia politics. Bojar has written numerous articles on feminist activism, and is the co-editor of Teaching Feminist Activism (Routledge, 2002); she also recently published Feminism in Philadelphia: The Glory Years, 1968–1982, which interweaves the history of feminism in Philadelphia with the broad themes and trajectory of the “second wave” feminist movement.