Ms. Delacourt argues that politics and commercial marketing have become increasingly alike since the 1950s. Political parties of all stripes work hard to package their leader and get their message out to voters. But, things have gone even further: messages are designed based on what market research shows voter/customers want to hear. Political debate has declined as elections become more like popularity contests. Traditional allegiances based on principles and positions have been replaced by a more consumer-like approach to choosing who to vote for.

This is a very thought-provoking book which made me consider what good governance really means, and why it may be increasingly hard to find in an age of target-marketing "customers" rather than representing citizens. ( )