The essays in this volume, first published in 2000, explore questions about democracy that are relevant to political philosophy and political theory. Some essays discuss the appropriate ends of government or examine the difficulties involved in determining and carrying out the will of the people. Some address questions relating to the kinds of influence citizens can or should have over their representatives, asking, for example, whether individuals have a duty to vote, or whether inequalities in political influence among citizens (measured in terms of campaign contributions) can be morally justified. Other essays analyze democratic institutions, discussing what role deliberation should play in the democratic process, and asking whether it is legitimate to use laws and public policies to express approval or disapproval of various kinds of conduct. Still others examine the relationship between democracy and value pluralism, or consider the suitability of democracy as a form of government in non-Western societies.
The essays in this volume, first published in 2000, explore questions about democracy that are relevant to political philosophy and political theory. Some essays discuss the appropriate ends of government or examine the difficulties involved in determining and carrying out the will of the people. Some address questions relating to the kinds of influence citizens can or should have over their representatives, asking, for example, whether individuals have a duty to vote, or whether inequalities in political influence among citizens (measured in terms of campaign contributions) can be morally justified. Other essays analyze democratic institutions, discussing what role deliberation should play in the democratic process, and asking whether it is legitimate to use laws and public policies to express approval or disapproval of various kinds of conduct. Still others examine the relationship between democracy and value pluralism, or consider the suitability of democracy as a form of government in non-Western societies.
Inhaltsverzeichnis
1. The very idea of popular sovereignty: 'we the people' reconsidered Christopher W. Morris; 2. Quasi-rights: participatory citizenship and negative liberties in democratic Athens Josiah Ober; 3. Is there a duty to vote? Loren E. Lomasky and Geoffrey Brennan; 4. Postmodern liberalism and the expressive function of law N. Scott Arnold; 5. Democratic epistemology and accountability Russell Hardin; 6. Political quality David Estlund; 7. Why deliberative democracy is different Amy Gutmann and Dennis Thompson; 8. The institutions of deliberative democracy William Nelson; 9. Democracy as a Telos Kenneth Minogue; 10. Radical democracy, personal freedom, and the transformative potential of politics Steven Wall; 11. Democracy and value pluralism William A. Galston; 12. The problem of Russian democracy: can Russia rise again? Dmitry Shlapentokh.
