Debating Deliberative Democracy

Deliberative democracy is based on the principle that legitimate democracy grows out of public deliberation among citizens. This remarkably fruitful concept has spawned investigations along several lines, many of which are explored in Debating Deliberative Democracy. This book explores the nature and value of deliberation, the feasibility and desirability of consensus on contentious issues, the implications of institutional complexity and cultural diversity for democratic decision-making, and the significance of voting and majority rule in deliberative arrangements. This is the latest volume in the distinguished Philosophy, Politics and Society series, known for engaging debates that cut across political science, philosophy, the law, and other disciplines.

James S. Fishkin holds the Patterson-Banister Chair at the University of Texas at Austin, where he is Professor of Government, Law, and Philosophy. His publications include Democracy and Deliberation (1991), The Dialogue of Justice (1992), and The Voice of the People (1995).

Peter Laslett (1915–2001) was a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. His publications include The World We Have Lost (1984) and A Fresh Map of Life (1989).