The Democratic Paradox Chantal Mouffe Verso, 2000 From the theory of 'deliberative democracy' to the politics of the 'third way', the present Zeitgeist is characterized by attempts to deny what Chantal Mouffe contends is the inherently conflictual nature of democratic politics. Far from being signs of progress, such ideas constitute a serious threat to democratic institutions. Taking issue with John Rawls and Jurgen Habermas on one side, and the ...             Democracy and Development: Political Institutions and Well-Being in the World, 1950-1990 (Cambridge Studies ...2 reviews Adam Przeworski, Michael E. Alvarez, ... Cambridge University Press, 2000 Monumental Work!!! Too many conjectures and too many theories have been addressed concerning the relationship between polities and material well-being in the world. But they have been raised without a proper test of them, without empirics. This book completely cleans all kinds of intellectual garbages, clarifies the ...             Strong Democracy: Participatory Politics for a New Age3 reviews Benjamin R. Barber University of California Press, 2004 Strong versus Thin Democracy + Strong Idealism Beginning with a frontal attack on the liberal democratic theory, which is grounded on and ramified from epistemological premises that are largely pre-historical and pre-theoretical, and stretching to the practical propositions aiming and helping to create a new sense of citizenship and community, ...             Democratization: Theory and Experience (Oxford Studies in Democratization) Laurence Whitehead Oxford University Press, USA, 2002 This innovative and accessible interpretation of democratization by one of the leading scholars in the field, examines the process of democratization. It aims to equip those caught up in democratization and democracy promotion with a more realistic understanding of the tensions and turbulence involved.             The Return of the Political (Radical Thinkers) (Radical Thinkers) Chantal Mouffe Verso, 2006 An original and powerful statement which enables us to close the widening gap between liberal democracy and the events of a disordered world.             The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century (Julian J. Rothbaum Distinguished Lecture ...4 reviews Samuel P. Huntington University of Oklahoma Press, 1993 This book gives an insightful view of developing countries + Samuel Huntington, "The Third Wave" + Setting the standard for democracy... + A good primer on the march towards democratization             A Preface to Democratic Theory, Expanded Edition Robert A. Dahl University Of Chicago Press, 2006 Robert Dahl’s Preface helped launch democratic theory fifty years ago as a new area of study in political science, and it remains the standard introduction to the field. Exploring problems that had been left unsolved by traditional thought on democracy, Dahl here examines two influential models—the Madisonian, which represents prevailing American doctrine, and its recurring ...             Patterns of Democracy: Government Forms and Performance in Thirty-Six Countries9 reviews Arend Lijphart Yale University Press, 1999 A neccessity + Testing Institutional Performance This book it a need of anyone who is either interested in or studies political science. I am an International Relations major at Harvard, and I have used the book in every government course I have had. It is very easy to read and not over-articulate. I like Lijphart's clear analysis, it is a great ...             The Democracy Sourcebook2 reviews The MIT Press, 2003 Good sourcebook on democracy + A book for all interested in the theory of Democracy This edited work, "The Democracy Sourcebook," is a good reference source for differing perspectives on democracy. The volume provides historical context as well as more contemporary reflections on the subject. The editors, Robert Dahl, Ian Shapiro, and Jose Antonio Cheibub, have done their work ...             Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy18 reviews Joseph A. Schumpeter Harper Perennial, 1962 Liz Rogers' Review of Joseph Schumpeter's Capitalism, Socialism, and Democracy + A masterpiece regarding the themes of socialism's rise and capitalism's decay and decline + Good Analysis, Bad Predictions + Not by bread alone             Participation and Democratic Theory (Structural Analysis in the Social Sciences) Carole Pateman Cambridge University Press, 1976 Shows that current elitist theories are based on an inadequate understanding of the early writings of democratic theory and that much sociological evidence has been ignored.             Freedom in the World 2006: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties (Freedom in the World)1 review Freedom House Rowman & Littlefield Publishers, Inc., 2006 The standard for assessing democracy in the world Freedom House is an organization devoted to the cause of democracy. As part of its efforts, it publishes an assessment of the status of democracy around the world each year. This volume considers the status of democracy in 2006. I am somewhat critical of their methods and the continually ...             Darwinism, Dominance, and Democracy: The Biological Bases of Authoritarianism (Human Evolution, Behavior, and ...1 review Albert Somit, Steven A. Peterson Praeger Publishers, 1997 An vitally important topic. I thoroughly enjoyed this book. For many years, I've considered the understanding of our evolutionary drive towards dominance hierarchies to be of utmost importance to the future direction of our species. Rare are books that address this topic. Rarer still are books that address it as succinctly ...             Fragile Democracies: Legacies of Authoritarian Rule (Pitt Series in Policy and Institutional Studies)1 review Gretchen Casper University of Pittsburgh Press, 1995 Still Relevant for the United States Today In terms of the preconditions for democracy to occur, Gretchen Casper identifies one among several. One serious liability is the consequence of a previous authoritarian regime. As she has succinctly remarked, "The legacies of authoritarian rule are fragile democracies" (1995:5). That is, the ...             On Democracy (Yale Nota Bene)13 reviews Robert A. Dahl Yale University Press, 2000 great for students + Well written and accessible work on democracy + Great Place To Begin A Study of Democracy This book is absolutely great for students studying political culture! It describes all aspects of democracy in a very clear way and really gives you an insight in political science. I have used this book throughout my studies and it has helped me a great deal!             Democratization: A Comparative Analysis of 170 Countries (Routledge Research in Comparative Politics, 7)1 review Tatu Vanhanen Routledge, 2003 Democracy and Its Origins Tatu Vanhanen has developed one of the more widely recognized measures of democracy. He uses both turnout rate in elections and proportion of votes won by minority parties as the two key definers of democracy. The logic? If turnout is low or if one party wins a huge majority of votes, then the ...             Bowling Alone : The Collapse and Revival of American Community82 reviews Robert D. Putnam Simon & Schuster, 2001 A Lonelier Crowd Robert D. Putnam's BOWLING ALONE provides what is, arguably, the most robust scientific treatment in a single volume of the conversation about friendship and its benefits begun by Aristotle nearly twenty-four centuries ago, a conversation about what has now come to be called "social capital" : ...             Considerations on Representative Government (Great Books in Philosophy)1 review John Stuart Mill Prometheus Books, 1991 Terrible edition As you read throug the Prometheus Great Books in Philosophy edition, you'll find that 32 pages are missing. Although these seems to be a very enlightning and interesting book, you'll never know it if you read this edition. I found another complaint about these editions in a review oh Thomas ...             The Democracy Reader: Classic and Modern Speeches, Essays, Poems, Declarations, and Documents on Freedom and ...1 review Diane Ravitch HarperResource, 1993 awesome book Lots of short and very readable essays about a very timely and important subject. A little hi brow in places but accutely inspiring in others.             The Theory of Democratic Elitism Peter Bachrach University Press of America, 2002 A reprint of the 1967 Little, Brown book, Professor Bachrach considers the age-old question of the role of elites in a democracy. He argues that the present influence of elites in the U.S. can be offset only by the revitalization of political participation. The book also provides a historical and analytical examination of the theory of democratic elitism, as well as its soundness both as ...