Democracy's Victory and Crisis

Leading scholars from a range of disciplines address questions central to the development and survival of democratic rule.

Axel Hadenius (Edited by)

9780521575836, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 28 August 1997

444 pages, 2 b/w illus.
22.8 x 15.2 x 2.8 cm, 0.827 kg

"Together, these fine articles would reward any student interested in democratization and social change." Robert K. Schaeffer, Contemporary Sociology

The contributors to this volume, first published in 1997, address questions central to the development and survival of democratic rule. Brought together under the auspices of a Nobel Symposium on democracy, leading experts in the field examine historical experiences, social and cultural problems, economic development, constitutional issues, the impact of globalization, and the prospects for promoting democratic government. The coverage of the book is global, and the approach is multidisciplinary, providing a unique perspective from leading historians, political scientists, economists, and sociologists. The chapters thus provide an excellent survey of different facets of, and approaches to, democracy, including such fundamental issues as the nature of democratic citizenship, and its prevalence around the world; the relationship between economic development and the progress of democracy; and the influence of international interdependence on sovereignty and democratic accountability.

1. Victory and crisis: introduction Axel Hadenius
Part I. Historical Perspectives: 2. The new democracies in crisis in interwar Europe Fritz Stern
Part II. Cultural Aspects: 3. Bowling alone: democracy in America at the end of the twentieth century Robert D. Putnam
4. On sources of social and political conflicts in follower democracies Atul Kohli
5. Micro-aspects of democractic theory: what makes for the deliberative competence of citizens Claus Offe
6. Political Islam and democracy: the case of Algeria Lahouari Addi
Part III. Constitutional Questions: 7. Ways of constitution-making Jon Elster
8. Back to basics: who really practices majority rule? Arend Lijphart
Part IV. Democracy and Development: 9. Democracy and development Adam Przeworski and Fernando Limongi
10. Freedom and economic growth: a virtuous cycle? Surjit S. Bhalla
11. Democratization and administration Göran Hydén
Part V. Democracy and Globalization: 12. Globalization sovereignty and democracy Jagdish Bhagwati
13. Dangerous liaisons: the interface of globalization and democracy Claude Ake
14. Exploring the problematic triumph of liberal democracy and concluding with a modest proposal for improving its international impact Philippe C. Schmitter
Part IV. Promoting Democracy: 15. Promoting democracy in the 1990s: actors instruments and issues Larry Diamond
16. Can established democracies nurture democracy abroad? Lessons from Africa Joel D. Barkan
17. Some thoughts on the victory and future of democracy Juan J. Linz.

Subject Areas: Political structures: democracy [JPHV]