Theories of Democracy: A Critical Introduction

by Frank Cunningham

Overview

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.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780415228794
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	11/15/2001
Series:	Routledge Contemporary Political Philosophy
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	256
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Frank Cunningham is a lecturer in the philosophy department at the University of Toronto. He is the author of Democratic Theory and Socialism(1987) and The Real World of Democracy (1994)

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Introduction; Chapter 2 Problems of democracy; Chapter 3 Liberal democracy; Chapter 4 Liberal democracy and the problems; Chapter 5 Classic pluralism; Chapter 6 Catallaxy; Chapter 7 Part Icipatory democracy; Chapter 8 Democratic pragmatism; Chapter 9 Deliberative democracy; Chapter 10 Radical pluralism; Chapter 11 Applying democratic theories: globalization;

Editorial Reviews

A very full and descriptive treatment of theories about democracy. It embraces a very wide range eof position and supports each position by a great mass of reference and reading, making it, I think, a unique guide to the subject.

Ross Harrison

This descriptive more than prescriptive journey begins with an Anglo-North American overview of the democratic terrain and then zooms in on specific democratic landscapes: liberal, classic pluralism, catallaxy (exchange economics applied to political science), participatory democracy, democratic pragmatism, deliberative democracy, and radical pluralism. Democracy's place within a globalizing world occupies the last chapter. Cunningham (philosophy, U. of Toronto) admits he leans toward democratic pragmatism as espoused in John Dewey's (1927). Suitable for an introductory university course. Distributed by Taylor & Francis. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

Booknews

'There are lots of good ideas in this book ... I would definitely include Theories of Democracy on my reading list for upper-level undergraduate/graduate courses.' - Kennedy Stewart, Political Theory

From the Publisher