This text builds on Robert Dahl's observation that there is no single theory of democracy; only theories. Beyond the broad commitment to rule the majority, democracy involves a set of contentious debates concerning the proper function and scope of power, equality, freedom, justice, and interests. In this anthology, the authors have assembled the works of classical, modern, and contemporary commentators to illustrate the deep and diverse roots of the democratic ideal, as well as to provide materials for thinking about the way some contemporary theories build on different traditions of democratic theorizing.
Ronald J. Terchek is professor of government and politics at the University of Maryland, College Park, and the author of Republican Paradoxes and Liberal Anxieties: Retrieving Neglected Fragments of Political Theory and Gandhi: Struggling for Autonomy. Thomas C. Conte is an assistant professor at Gettysburg College.
Part 1 Liberalism and Republicanism Part 2 The Evolving Liberal Tradition Chapter 3 The Second Treatise on Government & An Essay Concerning Human Understanding Chapter 4 Common Sense Chapter 5 "Federalist No. 10" Chapter 6 Democracy in America Chapter 7 On Liberty & Considerations on Representative Government Chapter 8 A Theory of Justice Part 9 The Civic Republican Tradition and Communitarians Chapter 10 Politics Chapter 11 The Discourses Chapter 12 Social Contract Chapter 13 "A Modell of Christian Charity" Chapter 14 "The Necessity of Education in a Republican Government" Chapter 15 "Community Properly Used" Part 16 Contemporary Theories of Democracy Part 17 Protective Democracy Chapter 18 The Political Order of a Free People Chapter 19 "The Role of Government in a Free Society" Part 20 Pluralist Democracy Chapter 21 Process of Government Chapter 22 Dilemmas of Pluralist Democracy Part 23 Performance Democracy Chapter 24 Capitalism, Socialism, Democracy Chapter 25 "An Economic Theory of Political Action in a Democracy" Part 26 Participatory Democracy Chapter 27 "Democratic Ends Need Democratic Methods for the Realization" Chapter 28 The Public and its Problems Chapter 29 Strong Democracy Part 30 Critiques of Contemporary Democratic Theory and Practice Part 31 The Realist and Neorealist Critiques Chapter 32 Economy and Society Chapter 33 Future of Democracy Part 34 Postmodernist Critiques Chapter 35 Power/Knowledge Chapter 36 "Democracy and Normalization" Chapter 37 "Radical Democracy: Modern or Postmodern?" Part 38 Discourse and Democracy Chapter 39 "Three Normative Models of Democracy" Chapter 40 "Liberal/Democratic Divide" Part 41 Pushing for Inclusion Chapter 42 Engendering Democracy Chapter 43 Race Matters Chapter 44 Justice and the Politics of Difference Part 45 Voices Outside of the West Chapter 46 "Speech at Muir College Economic Society" Chapter 47 Collected Works of Mahatma Gandhi Chapter 48 No Future without Forgiveness Chapter 49 "In Quest of Democracy" Chapter 50 "Conditionality Chapter 51 "The Ten Commandments of Democracy in Haiti"
Democracy is not an easy idea, the practice of democracy even more difficult. Theories of Democracy is an important, sophisticated, and smart collection of readings that recalls these simple truths in instructive and often provocative ways. Moving from the origins of democratic aspirations in early liberal and republican theories, through a helpful organization of contemporary theories of democracy, to critiques that seek to extend democracy's reach, Terchek and Conte have made clear that the evolution of democracy is an ongoing project. Concise introductions to each set of readings alert the reader to the choices that we confront in trying to match our democratic hopes to political possibilities. Theories of Democracy demonstrates that democratic values surface in a wide and diverse set of political writings. It also encourages the reader to reflect upon their own position in these debates. This makes the work useful for teaching both undergraduate and graduate students. Democracy is hard work that begins with an appreciation of its complexity. That is a lesson not only for students but for all friends of democracy. -- Alfonso J. Damico, University of Iowa Democracy is a global catchword today-but its meaning is contested and ambivalent. This volume provides a lucid overview of major theories of democracy, including 'protective,' 'pluralist,' and 'participatory' versions, together with critical evaluations from inside and outside 'the West.' A helpful and much needed text. -- Fred Dallmayr, University of Notre Dame Terchek and Conte have put together an excellent work, touching all the bases and then some. Their editorial work and commentary are superb. They have established a standard not just for their topic, but for anthologies in general. -- Frank B. Feigert, University of North Texas An ideal collection for courses on democratic theory. Terchek and Conte combine the expected selections-Rousseau, Machiavelli, Schumpeter-with an innovative list of critiques, from a variety of contemporary perspectives. Inclusions of Gandhi and other non-Western theorists is especially unusual and welcome. -- George Klosko, University of Virginia Ronald Terchek and Thomas Conte's Theories of Democracy is a thoughtfully selected compilation of important statements representing competing accounts of democratic principles and aspirations. It should prove very useful for undergraduate courses in modern and contemporary democratic theory. -- Thomas Spragens, Duke University Terchek and Conte's Theories of Democracy offers a wide-ranging collection of classical and contemporary perspectives on the problems and prospects of democratic society. Its most original feature is its inclusion of non-western voices in the chorus-or perhaps the cacophony-of contemporary democratic theory and practice. -- Terence Ball, Arizona State University This book would be a useful text in an introductory-level course on democratic theory. * Political Studies Review *
