Hyperdemocracy

"What is the future of democracy? Is it steadily improving, in scope and depth? Or is it being marginalized by economic forces? Or - a view not now very often heard - has it already progressed too far? This book argues that none of these assessments is right, and instead that democracy is becoming "hyper." An increasingly well educated citizenry, and freer flow of information, contribute to the intensification of democracy, but at the same time begin to impede decision-making by contesting more and more of the cognitive preconditions that decision-making rests upon. Under hyperdemocracy, democracy begins to undermine itself. The book applies the idea of "reflexive modernization" to democratic theory, setting out a new perspective on the challenges democracy faces"--

List of contents

1. Introduction: Hyperdemocracy, the Cognitive Dimension of Democracy, and Democratic Theory 2. The Cognitive Dimension of Democracy from Plato to Mill 3. Constitutive Theory: Competition, Polyarchy and the Cognitive Dimension of Democracy 4. Causal Theory: Progressive and Skeptical Strands of Modernization Theory 5. Cognitive Mobilization and Reflexive Modernization: Deriving the Theory of Hyperdemocracy 6. The Decline of Democracy: Social Capital and Post-Democracy versus Hyperdemocracy 7. The Revival of Democracy: Deliberative Democracy and Postmodern Democracy versus Hyperdemocracy 8. Symptoms of Hyperdemocracy (I): Science and Expertise 9. Symptoms of Hyperdemocracy (II): The Media 10. Conclusion: The Place and the Trajectory of Hyperdemocracy

Report

Praise to come.

Product details

• Authors: S Welch, S. Welch, Stephen Welch
• Publisher: Palgrave UK
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 24.10.2013
• EAN: 9780230341142
• ISBN: 978-0-230-34114-2
• No. of pages: 217
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political theories and the history of ideas; B, History: specific events & topics, Democracy, Political Science, Political Philosophy, Political Theory, Social & political philosophy, Political science & theory, Political structures: democracy, Political History, Comparative Politics, History: specific events and topics, World Politics, Palgrave Political & Intern. Studies Collection, capital;democracy;Plato;social capital