Democratic Innovations
Designing Institutions for Citizen Participation

This book examines democratic innovations from around the world, drawing lessons for the future development of both democratic theory and practice.

Graham Smith (Author)

9780521514774, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 2 July 2009

232 pages
23.5 x 15.8 x 2 cm, 0.51 kg

'Resurgence and reappraisal of democracies and democratic ideals in the 21st century has surely received its due share of academic attention. However, growing discontent with the existing forms and practices of representative democracy has facilitated the emergence and revival of ideas of deliberative and direct democracy. As a critical examination of the existing practices of 'democratic innovations', Graham Smith's book is a systematic and coherent collection of previously disengaged thoughts, practices and criticisms that were under-analyzed in the literature. Moreover, as a unique amalgam of democratic theory and new practices, it is the first comprehensive study of the different forms of democratic innovations.' CEU Political Science Journal

Can we design institutions that increase and deepen citizen participation in the political decision making process? At a time when there is growing disillusionment with the institutions of advanced industrial democracies, there is also increasing interest in new ways of involving citizens in the political decisions that affect their lives. This book draws together evidence from a variety of democratic innovations from around the world, including participatory budgeting in Brazil, Citizens' Assemblies on Electoral Reform in Canada, direct legislation in California and Switzerland and emerging experiments in e-democracy. The book offers a rare systematic analysis of this diverse range of democratic innovations, drawing lessons for the future development of both democratic theory and practice.

Introduction
1. Studying democratic innovations: an analytical framework
2. Popular assemblies: from New England town meetings to participatory budgeting
3. Mini-publics: assemblies by random selection
4. Direct legislation: direct democracy through the ballot box
5. E-democracy: the promise of information and communication technology
6. Realising the goods of democratic institutions
Conclusion.

Subject Areas: Comparative politics [JPB], Political science & theory [JPA], Politics & government [JP]