Democratic Theory Today Challenges for the 21st Century

by Carter, April; Stokes, Geoffrey

• ISBN13: 9780745621944
• ISBN10: 0745621945
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2002-02-15
• Publisher: Polity

Summary

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, liberal democracy appears as the only valid form of democracy. Nonetheless, the well-established parliamentary regimes are facing serious threats to both their liberal and their democratic values. Among these threats are economic globalization and the growing assertion of cultural difference and nationalism.This book examines some key theoretical and practical problems for democracy today, such as the nature of citizenship and forms of inequality and exclusion based on poverty, gender and ethnic or cultural difference. It also explores the challenges posed by nationalism and by claims for group rights and indigenous autonomy.The authors discuss recent theoretical responses to the problems of political apathy and inequality, as well as globalization and identity politics. These various approaches accept the basic institutions of liberal democracy but look for ways of revitalizing political debate and participation, promoting greater equality and responding to the erosion of national sovereignty by global forces.Democratic Theory Today will provide a lively and accessible guide for students of political science, political theory and political philosophy. It will also be of interest to those engaged in current debates about democracy..

Author Biography

April Carter is Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Government, University of Queensland

Geoffrey Stokes is Professor of Politics at Deakin University

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements	vii
Contributors	viii
Introduction	1	(22)
April Carter
Geoffrey Stokes
Part I Challenges to Democracy
Democracy and Citizenship	23	(29)
Geoffrey Stokes
Democracy and Inequality	52	(21)
Harry Brighouse
Democracy, Citizenship and Gender	73	(24)
Elizabeth Frazer
Democracy and Group Rights	97	(24)
John Kane
Democracy and Indigenous Self-determination	121	(28)
Michele Ivanitz
Democracy and Nationalism	149	(24)
Margaret Canovan
Part II Theoretical Responses
Deliberative Democracy	173	(30)
Mark Warren
Civil Society and Democracy	203	(25)
Baogang He
Associative Democracy	228	(21)
April Carter
Social Democracy	249	(20)
Raymond Plant
Transnational Democracy	269	(26)
Anthony McGrew
Index	295