From the introduction: "There is a great deal to be learned from McCleary's work, and she raises serious questions not only about Guatemalan society but also about the democratization of societies in general. . . . We must be immensely grateful to her for providing us in clear and balanced terms with the first, and perhaps only, account and analysis of what happened during those critical days in May and June of 1993."--Richard N. Adams, Rapaport Centennial Professor of Liberal Arts, Emeritus, University of Texas, Austin Documenting a rare political occurrence, Rachel McCleary examines the evolution of the two major elite groups in Guatemala--the organized private sector and the military--during the country's transition from authoritarianism to democracy. Arguing that the transition resulted from a stalemate over economic policy, she shows how the two elites altered their relations from disunity (during the period from 1982 to 1986) to unity (from 1993 to the present). Not only does she describe a nonviolent settlement, she also discusses the development of democracy in a country that was directly caught up in Cold War relations between the United States and the USSR. Thus she makes a serious contribution to the study of democratization as well as to Latin American history. Rachel M. McCleary, professor of international studies at Johns Hopkins University, is the author of Seeking Justice: Ethics and International Affairs.

In their efforts to uncover the principles of a robust conception of democracy, theorists of deliberative democracy place a premium on the role of political expression—public speech and reasoned debate—as the key to democratic processes. They also frequently hark back to historical antecedents (as in the Habermasian invocation of the “public sphere” of eighteenth-century bourgeois society and the Arendtian valorization of the classical Athenian polis) in their quest to establish that deliberative procedures are more than “merely theoretical” and instead have a practical application. But for all this emphasis on the discursive and historical dimensions of democracy, these theorists have generally neglected the rich resources available in the history of rhetorical theory and practice. It is the purpose of Talking Democracy to resurrect this history and show how attention to rhetoric can help lead to a better understanding of both the strengths and limitations of current theories of deliberative democracy. Contributors, besides the editors, are Russell Bentley, Tsae Lan Lee Dow, Tom Murphy, Arlene Saxonhouse, Gary Shiffman, John Uhr, Nadia Urbinati, John von Heyking, and Douglas Walton.

Saving Democracy presents a bold yet practical plan for reinventing American democracy for the twenty-first century. The book diagnoses contemporary political ills as symptoms of corruption in our large republic and develops a new understanding of representative democracy. Building on the ideas of James Madison and Thomas Jefferson, Saving Democracy shows how it is possible to combine the traditional town hall and the Internet to fashion a new theory of representative government that empowers citizens and bridges the enormous gap that now exists between the political elite and the average voter. Under the author's plan, in each of the nation's 435 congressional districts a local assembly of 100 citizens, selected by lot, would meet to discuss the major domestic and international issues. The role of this assembly would be deliberative and advisory and its views would constitute a second, more sophisticated and informed measure of public opinion than traditional public opinion polls. The next step would be the establishment of the People's House, which would hold actual legislative power.

To govern ourselves or not? That is the existential question of politics. In light of the recent surges of political extremism--and the alienation and distrust that follow--in both the United States and Europe, ensuring the perseverance of democratic self-rule now feels particularly precarious. Time to Save Democracy tackles the daunting challenges of the current moment head-on. With clear, accessible prose, Henry Tam sets out to explore what exactly should be done to revive democracy. Moving beyond familiar 'get the vote out'-style idea, Tam sets out nine key areas where reforms are necessary to ensure we can govern ourselves more effectively, touching on notions of having a shared mission and mutual respect among politically dissimilar groups, the importance of public accountability for elected officials, and sustaining the power balance between the government and its constituents. Dispelling the suggestion that democracy has run its course, this book serves as a powerful reminder of why democratic governance is indispensable.

bThis unique textbook provides students with a detailed look at many different aspects of democracy in practice: clearly describing and analysing all three existing models of democracy: * participatory democracy * referenda and initiatives * representative or liberal democracy. Using numerous real life examples from all over the world, this text explores how each is used in practice and provides discussion of the main problems with each model, answering the question: Why are there so many different forms of democratic practice?

Democracy requires a connection to the 'will of the people'. What does that mean in a world of 'fake news', relentless advocacy, dialogue mostly among the like-minded, and massive spending to manipulate public opinion? What kind of opinion can the public have under such conditions? What would democracy be like if the people were really thinking in depth about the policies they must live with? If they really 'deliberated' with good information about their political choices? This book argues that 'deliberative democracy' is not utopian. It is a practical solution to many of democracy's ills. It can supplement existing institutions with practical reforms. It can apply at all levels of government and for many different kinds of policy choices. This volume speaks to a recurring dilemma: listen to the people and get the angry voices of populism or rely on widely distrusted elites and get policies that seem out of touch with the public's concerns. Instead, there are methods for getting a representative and thoughtful public voice that is really worth listening to. Democracy is under siege in most countries, where democratic institutions have low approval and face a resurgent threat from authoritarian regimes. Deliberative democracy can provide an antidote and can reinvigorate our democratic politics. This book draws on the author's research with many collaborators on 'Deliberative Polling'-a process conducted in 27 countries on six continents. It contributes both to political theory and to the empirical study of public opinion and participation. It should interest anyone concerned about the future of democracy and how it can be revitalized.

These findings bridge international relations and comparative politics while also providing guidelines for policymakers who wish to use regional organizations to promote democracy."--BOOK JACKET.