Democratic Theory Today: Challenges for the 21st Century - Softcover

Softcover

ISBN 10: 0745621953 ISBN 13: 9780745621951

Publisher: Polity, 2001

Synopsis

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. .

About this title

Review

'Carter and Stokes are to be congratulated for putting together a highly accessible collection of essays that illuminate and advance debates at the cutting edge of democratic theory.'

Ian Shapiro, Yale University

"The nearly one dozen essaysin this volume traverse the field in useful provocative ways. They not only help place the field in clearer focus, but make constructive contributions to ongoing debates...For the unintiated it will serve as a nice introduction to current debates. For scholars in the field it will serve as a useful map of where democratic theory now stands" James Johnson, University of Rochester

About the Author

April Carter is Adjunct Associate Professor, Department of Government, University of Queensland Geoffrey Stokes is Professor of Politics at Deakin University

About this edition

• Publisher: Polity
• Publication date: 2001
• ISBN 10: 0745621953
• ISBN 13: 9780745621951
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 320
• Editor: Carter April