| Theories of Democracy: A Critical Introduction Contributor(s): Cunningham, Frank (Author) |
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ISBN: 0415228786 ISBN-13: 9780415228787 Publisher: Routledge OUR PRICE: $171.00 Product Type: Hardcover - Other Formats Published: November 2001 Annotation: "Theories of Democracy" is a comprehensive and accessible introduction to the main theories of democracy. Chapters are devoted to liberal democracy, classic pluralism, participatory democracy, catallaxy, democratic pragmatism, deliberative democracy and radical pluralism. Frank Cunningham assesses how these theories meet long-standing problems thought to beset democracy in practice: that democracy permits majorities to tyrannize minorities; that it is inefficient, unreliable and incoherent way of making collective decisions; that it invites conflict; and that it can be taken advantage of by demagogies or a mask systemic oppression. Cunningham also summarizes the views of famous forerunners of current democratic theory: Aristotle, de Tocqueville, Rousseau, Mill, Dewey and Schumpeter. A concluding chapter uses the example of globalization to show how the theories are concretely applied and notes their strengths and weaknesses in coping with globalization. The book also contains three helpful discussion sections that concentrate on the recurrent themes of the relation of liberal democracy to capitalism, the concept of democratic representation and the value of democracy. |
| Additional Information |
| BISAC Categories: - Political Science | Political Ideologies - Democracy - Philosophy | Political |
| Dewey: 321.8 |
| LCCN: 2001034998 |
| Series: Routledge Contemporary Political Philosophy |
| Physical Information: 0.95" H x 6.36" W x 9.76" (1.14 lbs) 256 pages |
| Descriptions, Reviews, Etc. |
| Publisher Description: This is the first book to be published in this exciting new series on political philosophy. Cunningham provides a critical and clear introduction to the main contemporary approaches to democracy: participatory democracy, classic and radical pluralism, deliberative democracy, catallaxy, and others. Also discussed are theorists in the background of current democratic thought, such as Tocqueville, Mill, and Rousseau. The book includes applications of democratic theories including an extended discussion of democracy and globalisation. |