The essays contained in this volume address three important and interrelated themes in the theory and practice of democratic politics: the use of information short cuts in political decision making; the role of deliberation in citizens' attitude and opinion formation and the pathways to civic and political participation. Drawing on well-established theory and findings from both political science and psychology each essay provides an interpretative review of research within the topic. context-dependent dynamics of mass politics today, pointing out questions that remain unanswered and promising...