Discursive Democracy
Politics, Policy, and Political Science

Discursive Democracy examines how the political process can be made more vital and meaningful.

John S. Dryzek (Author)

9780521478274, Cambridge University Press

Paperback, published 28 October 1994

268 pages
22.9 x 15.1 x 1.5 cm, 0.4 kg

In this book, John Dryzek criticizes the dominance of instrumental rationality and objectivism in political institutions and public policy and in the practice of political science. He argues that the reliance on these kinds of politics and to technocracies of expert cultures that are not only repressive, but surprisingly ill-equipped for dealing with complex social problems. Drawing on critical theory, he outlines an alternative program for the organization of political institutions advocating a form of communicatively rational democracy, which he terms discursive democracy, that stresses the importance of active citizenship and public discourse. He draws out the limitations of instrumental rationality and investigates how policy analysis and political science may be reformed to help constitute and comprehend democracy. Discursive Democracy examines how the political process can be made more vital and meaningful. At the same time it shows how such an invigorated process will serve as a more effective agent for social problem solving.

Preface
Part I. Introduction: 1. Democratizing rationality
Part II. Political Institutions: 2. Discursive designs
3. Complexity
4. Discursive dynamics
5. International discursive designs (with Susan Hunter)
Part III. Public Policy: 6. Policy sciences of democracy
7. The ambitions of policy (with Brian Ripley)
Part IV. Political Science: 8. The mismeasure of political man
9. The measure of political man - and woman
10. Progress and rationality
Part V. Conclusion: 11. On extending democracy
Notes
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Political science & theory [JPA]