Democratic Theory Today Challenges for the 21st Century

At the beginning of the twenty-first century, liberal democracyappears as the only valid form of democracy. Nonetheless, thewell-established parliamentary regimes are facing serious threatsto both their liberal and their democratic values. Among thesethreats are economic globalization and the growing assertion ofcultural difference and nationalism.
This book examines some key theoretical and practical problems fordemocracy today, such as the nature of citizenship and forms ofinequality and exclusion based on poverty, gender and ethnic orcultural difference. It also explores the challenges posed bynationalism and by claims for group rights and indigenousautonomy.
The authors discuss recent theoretical responses to the problems ofpolitical apathy and inequality, as well as globalization andidentity politics. These various approaches accept the basicinstitutions of liberal democracy but look for ways of revitalizingpolitical debate and participation, promoting greater equality andresponding to the erosion of national sovereignty by globalforces.
Democratic Theory Today will provide a lively and accessible guidefor students of political science, political theory and politicalphilosophy. It will also be of interest to those engaged in currentdebates about democracy.
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