The Rule Of The Many : Fundamental Issues In Democratic Theory

ISBN-13: 9780813314556 / Angielski / Miękka / 1996 / 323 str.

Thomas Christiano

Opis

There is no problem more crucial to contemporary political thought than the status of democracy, its role, and its problems in the contemporary world. In this survey of democratic theory, Thomas Christiano introduces the reader to the principles underlying democracy and to the problems involved in applying these principles to real life situations.Begining with the simple, democratically inspired presumption that the interests of all citizens are to be treated equally, Christiano argues that the implications of such a minimal commitment clarify the nature of democracy and what must be demanded of democratic institutions. He argues that it is the collision of this demand for equality with the fact of pluralism of interests that determines how democratic institutions ought to be designed. This strong sense of reality will be welcomed by those interested in practical questions of transition in newly democratizing states.Christiano combines a broad coverage of important positions taken by others with the exposition of his own ideas, allowing his text to appeal to a wide range of readers, from introductory students to experienced scholars. Clear, accessible, and often elegant, The Rule of the Many is a splendid introduction to democratic theory, one that will take its place as both an important scholarly contribution and as an effective text.

Spis treści

Introduction -- Foundations of Democracy -- Self-Government -- Equality -- Democracy and the Problem of the Modern State -- The Challenge of the Modern State to the Democratic Ideals -- The Economic Conception of Citizenship -- A Normative Conception of Citizenship -- Principles and Problems of Democratic Institutions -- Equality and Legislative Representation -- Interest Groups and Political Parties as Institutions of Deliberation -- Equality in the Process of Social Deliberation

O autorze

Thomas Christiano is associate professor of philosophy at the University of Arizona and the author of several influencial papers on ethics and political philosophy.