Challenges to Democracy: Ideas,Involvement and Institutions

by Keith M. Dowding, John Hughes (Editor), Helen Margetts (Editor), James Hughes (Editor)

Overview

Leading political scientists address the challenges faced by democracy in the 21st century. The contributors tackle the changing nature of democratic ideas, in particular equality in society and the satisfaction of citizens. They examine changing patterns of political involvement, from voting to new forms of participation and protest using the Internet and new technologies. Finally, they look at the challenge to democracy posed by the changing nature of state institutions: party systems, bureaucracy and e-government, regulation and the processes of institutional development.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780333789827
Publisher:	Palgrave Macmillan
Publication date:	10/28/2001
Series:	Political Studies Association Yearbook Series , #2000
Pages:	287
Product dimensions:	6.34(w) x 9.46(h) x 0.94(d)

About the Author

Keith Dowding is Professor of Political Science and Jim Hughes is Senior Lecturer in Comparative Politics, Department of Government, both at the London School of Economics and Political Science. Helen Margetts is Reader in Political Science at the School of Public Policy, University College London.

Table of Contents

Part I: Challenges for Democracy: Equality and Satisfaction
Political Equality in the Coming Century--Robert Dahl
Levelling Down--Jonathan Wolff
The Political Economy of Human Happiness--Benjamin Radcliff
Freedom and the Achievement of Happiness--Jan Ott
Part II: Challenges from Society: Changing Patterns of Political Involvement
Is there a Crisis of Democracy in Great Britain? Turnout at General Elections Reconsidered--Ron Johnston & Charles Pattie
Social Capital, Civic Literacy and Political Participation: Explaining Differences in Voter Turnout--Henry Milner
A Virtuous Circle? The Impact of Political Communications in Post-Industrial Democracies--Pippa Norris
Hacktivism: Direct Action on the Electronic Flows of Information Societies--Tim Jordan
Deliberative Democracy and Referendums--John Parkinson
Creating Spaces of Deliberation in Barcelona: It's Good to Talk?--Georgina Blakeley
Part III: Challenges from the State: Changing Institutions
External Influences on Party Development and Transnational Party Cooperation: The Case of Post-Communist Europe--Geoffrey Pridham
Promoting Parties and Party Systems in New Democracies: Is There Anything the "International Community" Can Do?--Peter Burnell
Regulatory Accountability: Towards a Single Citizen-Consumer Model?--Martin Lodge
E-Governance: Weber's Revenge?--Perri 6
Decentralization and Development: The New Panacea--Elinor Ostrom