Deliberative Democracy

by Jon Elster

Overview

It is sometimes assumed that voting is the central mechanism for political decision making. The contributors to this volume focus on an alternative mechanism, which is decision by discussion or deliberation. This volume is characterized by a realistic approach to the issue of deliberative democracy. Rather than assuming that deliberative democracy is always ideal, the authors critically probe its limits and weaknesses as well as its strengths.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521596961
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	03/28/1998
Series:	Cambridge Studies in the Theory of Democracy , #1
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	296
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.21(h) x 0.75(d)

Table of Contents

List of contributors; Preface and acknowledgement; Introduction Jon Elster; 1. 'Claro!': an essay on discursive machismo Diego Gambetta; 2. Deliberation as discussion James D. Fearon; 3. All men are liars: is democracy meaningless? Gerrie Mackie; 4. Deliberation and constitution making Jon Elster; 5. Pathologies of deliberation Susan C. Stokes; 6. Deliberation and ideological domination Adam Przeworski; 7. Arguing for deliberation: some skeptical considerations James Johnson; 8. Democracy and liberty Joshua Cohen; 9. Health-health trade-offs Cass R. Sunstein; 10. Full representation, deliberation and impartiality Roberto Gargarella; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"Deliberative Democracy is a timely book by an excellent group of scholars that examines an issue of major political importance: the merits of decision making by deliberation. Everyone interested in democratic theory and practice should read this far-ranging, thoughtful, and provocative collection." Amy Gutmann, Princeton University

"This thoughtful and engaging volume makes several significant contributions to our understanding of democratic deliberation. Deliberative Democracy's major insights involve the questions and challenges that it raises for our basic conceptions of deliberation and democratic decision-making. These essays place a number of important issues on the research agenda in this field." Jack Knight, Washington University in St. Louis

From the Publisher