The recently concluded Democratic National Convention in Chicago turned into a real show: glitzy musical acts, rousing speeches, Oprah Winfrey, and effusive displays of familial love. Such sentimental spectacles are an important part of the performance that US presidential candidates must put on to win over voters.
The greatest show on earth: why elections in the USA are impossible without public display of emotions
In a column for Project Syndicate, publicist Jan Buruma discusses why Americans do not distinguish politics from entertainment industry, and how it relates to democratic traditions
