Strong Democracy: Participatory Politics for a New AgeSince its appearance twenty years ago, Benjamin R. Barber's Strong Democracy has been one of the primary standards against which political science thinking and writing is measured. Defined as the participation of all of the people in at least some aspects of self-government at least some of the time, Strong Democracy offers liberal society a new way of thinking about and of practicing democracy. Contrary to the commonly held view that an excess of democracy can undo liberal institutions, Barber argues that an excess of liberalism has undermined our democratic institutions and brought about the set of crises we still find ourselves struggling against: cynicism about voting, alienation, privatization, and the growing paralysis of public institutions. In a new preface Barber looks at the past twenty years and restates his argument, which seems, sadly, more pressing than ever. |
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abstract action activity American anarchism anarchist anarchist disposition argument autonomy become Bertrand Russell C. B. Macpherson choice citizenry citizens citizenship civic education condition conflict consensus decision defined democ democratic democratic politics democratic theory dilemmas economic epistemology equality fallibilism freedom Hobbes human idea ideal independent ground individual inertial frame institutions interaction Jean-Jacques Rousseau John Dewey John Stuart Mill justice leadership legislation legitimate liberal democracy liberty mass means ment metaphysical Michael Oakeshott minimalist mocracy modern moral multichoice mutual nature neighborhood assemblies participation participatory philosophical political judgment political theory principle private interests problem psychology quest racy radical Rawls realist realm reason referendum representative representative democracy responsibility Robert Nozick Rousseau self-government self-interest skepticism social society strong democracy thin democracy tion tive Tocqueville town meeting tradition transform truth unitary democracy University Press virtue vision vote voucher York