Theories of Democracy: A Critical Introduction

Theories of Democracy provides a critical assessment of the main approaches to democracy. Frank Cunningham explains and summarizes the main tenets of theories of democracy, including liberal, participatory and deliberative democracy, as well as the problems that can beset democracy from majority tyranny and ineffective governments to problems in decision-making procedures and others. The book offers treatments of the main themes in democratic theory including freedom and equality, rights, collective decision-making, legitimacy and justice and covers the thought of thinkers from Rousseau and Madison to Kant and Mill. It offers concrete examples of the application of democratic theories including a discussion of globalization, as well as an in-depth look at the relation of liberal democracy to capitalism, the conceptions of democratic representation and the value of democracy.