Why Deliberative Democracy?

Gutmann, Amy; Thompson, Dennis F.

ISBN 10: 0691120196 / ISBN 13: 9780691120195

Published by Princeton University Press (edition ), 2004

About this Item

The item might be beaten up but readable. May contain markings or highlighting, as well as stains, bent corners, or any other major defect, but the text is not obscured in any way.

Seller Inventory # 0691120196-7-1

Bibliographic Details

• Title: Why Deliberative Democracy?
• Publisher: Princeton University Press (edition )
• Publication Date: 2004
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0691120196
• ISBN 13: 9780691120195
• Binding: Paperback
• Condition: Fair

About this title

Synopsis

The most widely debated conception of democracy in recent years is deliberative democracy--the idea that citizens or their representatives owe each other mutually acceptable reasons for the laws they enact. Two prominent voices in the ongoing discussion are Amy Gutmann and Dennis Thompson. In Why Deliberative Democracy?, they move the debate forward beyond their influential book, Democracy and Disagreement.


What exactly is deliberative democracy? Why is it more defensible than its rivals? By offering clear answers to these timely questions, Gutmann and Thompson illuminate the theory and practice of justifying public policies in contemporary democracies. They not only develop their theory of deliberative democracy in new directions but also apply it to new practical problems. They discuss bioethics, health care, truth commissions, educational policy, and decisions to declare war. In "What Deliberative Democracy Means," which opens this collection of essays, they provide the most accessible exposition of deliberative democracy to date. They show how deliberative democracy should play an important role even in the debates about military intervention abroad.



Why Deliberative Democracy? contributes to our understanding of how democratic citizens and their representatives can make justifiable decisions for their society in the face of the fundamental disagreements that are inevitable in diverse societies. Gutmann and Thompson provide a balanced and fair-minded approach that will benefit anyone intent on giving reason and reciprocity a more prominent place in politics than power and special interests.

About the Author

Amy Gutmann and Dennis Thompson previously coauthored Democracy and Disagreement (Harvard). Gutmann is President of the University of Pennsylvania and Professor of Political Science at the same institution. Her most recent book is Identity in Democracy (Princeton). Dennis Thompson is Alfred North Whitehead Professor of Political Philosophy at Harvard University. His other books include Just Elections: Creating a Fair Electoral Process in the U.S. (Chicago).