⁤Details of Democracy (Chinese: 民主的细节：美国当代政治观察随笔) is a book by Chinese writer and political scientist Liu Yu. ⁤⁤Originally published in 2009 as a collection of essays, the work explores the workings of American democracy to a Chinese audience. ⁤

Originally a collection of essays written for her blog on the subject of American democracy, the book uses stories and anecdotes to explain the daily mechanisms of democracy. ⁤⁤Liu Yu delves into aspects such as the legislative process, labor strikes, and the role of the media.

Details of Democracy was a bestseller, selling over 300,000 copies in Mainland China and was named Book of the Year by Southern Weekly, The Beijing News, Sina.com amongst other media.^[1][2] The book earned Liu Yu the nickname "China's de Tocqueville," in reference to the French political thinker Alexis de Tocqueville who also analysed American democracy.⁤^[1]

⁤Details of Democracy is considered a cornerstone of China's liberal intellectual movement. ⁤⁤By offering a clear-eyed view of American democracy, the book sparked discussions about political participation and reform within China.^[1][3]

The book is divided into five parts, "Power Checks and Balances", "Civil Society", "Welfare-Equality", "Rule of Law-Freedom" and "Characters".