Synopses & Reviews
The idea that the opposition has a right to organize and to appeal for votes against the government in elections and in parliament is one of the most important milestones in the development of democratic institutions. Mr. Dahl and nine collaborators analyze the role of the opposition in Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and the United States. In introductory and concluding chapters, Dahl compares the patterns of opposition in these countries and makes predictions for the future. He carries forward on the basis of this evidence the theory of a pluralistic society he has explored in earlier books such as
Who Governs? Mr. Dahl is Sterling Professor of Political Science at Yale University. His collaborators are Samuel Barnes, Hans Daalder, Frederick Engelmann, Alfred Grosser, Otto Kirchheimer, Val R. Lorwin, Allen Potter, Stein Rokkan, and Nils Stjernquist. "This stately volume is distinguished by several unusual features. First, it straightforwardly focuses on a crucial issue of Comparative Politics without being vitiated by the familiar behaviorist semantics and jargon. Secondly, contrary to the ubiquitous trend in this country, flooded by discussion—more journalistic than scientific—on the emergent states, it centers on constitutional democracy in Western Europe, a region which for a decade and more had been badly neglected by the rampant computerizers. Thirdly, for the ten countries under discussion Professor Dahl was fortunate to enlist the services of genuine experts, the majority of whom are specialists in their field. . . . On the whole the volume is one of the major contributions to Comparative Politics that have appeared in this country for some time. The study of the issue as such as well as of the individual reviews is highly rewarding."—Karl Loewenstein, The Annals.
Review
““Dahl is never dogmatic, and never imagines that the world stands still to accommodate either the democratic ideal or his own pluralistic theory of city politics. . . . Who Governs? is Dahls liveliest and most remarkable book.”—Douglas W. Rae, from the Foreword
Review
““A book that no one interested in politics can afford to ignore.”—Lewis A. Coser, Commentary
Review
““Anyone seriously concerned with current systematic political theory or with urban politics should read Who Governs?”—Hugh Douglas Price, Political Science Quarterly
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"
On Political Equality has allandnbsp;of andnbsp;the earmarksandnbsp;of a book byandnbsp;Robertandnbsp;A. Dahland#8212;sharp edged reasoning, unfolding logic, and lucid writing."and#8212;Fred Greenstein, Princeton University
Review
"
On Political Equality is notable for its clarity and simplicity, but don't be fooledand#8212;it asks one of the most difficult questions a nation can face: should we strive for more political equality over the coming century despite the controversy that will ensue? Dahl answers with a resounding yes, and shows why almost any effort is worth the cost."and#8212;Jennifer L. Hochschild, Harvard University
Review
"This is a rigorous and insightful reconsideration of the theories of political legitimacy underpinning the utilitarian, Marxist, social contract, anti-Enlightenment, and democratic traditions, from one of the foremost democratic theorists in America today. Shapiro conveys the reader through a maze of complex moral, economic and political argument surrounding this topic with impressive skill and enviable clarity. It will be of substantial interest to students of moral philosophy as well as political theory, and should reach a broader audience concerned with how to think about the moral dilemmas implicit in contemporary democratic theory and practice."and#8212;Shannon Stimson, UC Berkeley
Review
and#8220;A deeply valuable book at many levels. Students will find a synoptic, clear overview with an argument to supplement their own courses; faculty can secretly get back up to speed on philosophers they should remember better; specialists will be impelled to put and#8216;their guyand#8217; into a more comprehensive framework than usual. Shapiro shows an almost unique ability to combine the broad sweep with the telling detail or precise insightand#8212;just what a book of this sort needs.and#8221;and#8212;Jennifer Hochschild, Harvard University
Synopsis
"The late Robert Dahl's On Democracy is the source for how to govern democratically. Following the methods and channeling the insight of Dahl, Ian Shapiro's new edition completes Dahl's project and is must reading for the next generation and essential re-reading for the present."--Michael Doyle, Columbia University Written by the preeminent democratic theorist of our time, this book explains the nature, value, and mechanics of democracy. This new edition includes two additional chapters by Ian Shapiro, Dahl's successor as Sterling Professor of Political Science at Yale and a leading contemporary authority on democracy. One chapter deals with the prospects for democracy in light of developments since the advent of the Arab spring in 2010. The other takes up the effects of inequality and money in politics on the quality of democracy, a subject that was of increasing concern to Dahl in his final years.
"Dahl's tersest summary of the lessons of his profoundly influential interrogation of democracy's strengths and weaknesses. Ian Shapiro shows forcefully what we have learned since its initial publication."--John Dunn, author of Breaking Democracy's Spell
"Robert A. Dahl's On Democracy admirably synthesized the contributions of the world's leading democratic theorist of the twentieth century. Now Ian Shapiro intelligently carries Dahl's queries and concerns into our own century."--Robert D. Putnam, author of Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis
Synopsis
When do governments merit our allegiance, and when should they be denied it? Ian Shapiro explores this most enduring of political dilemmas in this innovative and engaging book. Building on his highly popular Yale courses, Professor Shapiro evaluates the main contending accounts of the sources of political legitimacy. Starting with theorists of the Enlightenment, he examines the arguments put forward by utilitarians, Marxists, and theorists of the social contract. Next he turns to the anti-Enlightenment tradition that stretches from Edmund Burke to contemporary post-modernists. In the last part of the book Shapiro examines partisans and critics of democracy from Platoand#8217;s time until our own. He concludes with an assessment of democracyand#8217;s strengths and limitations as the font of political legitimacy. The book offers a lucid and accessible introduction to urgent ongoing conversations about the sources of political allegiance.
Synopsis
A text in the Yale University Press Series on Basic Documents in World Politics
Synopsis
This volume contains the full text of the United Nations Charter and the Statute of the International Court of Justice, as well as related historical documents. They are accompanied by ten original essays on the Charter and its legacy by distinguished scholars and former high-level UN officials. The commentaries illuminate the early and ongoing roles of the United Nations in responding to international crises, debates about the UNs architecture and its reform, and its role in global governance, climate change, peacekeeping, and development. A concise and accessible introduction to the UN for students, this collection also offers important new scholarship that will be of interest to experts.
Synopsis
Robert A. Dahl, one of the worldand#8217;s most influential and respected political scientists, has spent a lifetime exploring the institutions and practices of democracy in such landmark books as
Who Governs?,
On Democracy, and
How Democratic Is the American Constitution?and#160; Here, Dahl looks at the fundamental issue of equality and how and why governments have fallen short of their democratic ideals.and#160;
At the center of the book is the question of whether the goal of political equality is so far beyond our human limits that it should be abandoned in favor of more attainable ends, or if there are ways to realistically address and reduce inequities. Though complete equality is unattainable, Dahl argues that strides toward that ideal are both desirable and feasible. He shows the remarkable shift in recent centuries toward democracy and political equality the world over. He explores the growth of democratic institutions, the expansion of citizenship, and the various obstacles that stand in the way of gains in political equality. Dahl also looks at the motives, particularly those of emotion and reason, that play such a crucial role in the struggle for equality.and#160;and#160;
In conclusion, Dahl assesses the contemporary political landscape in the United States. He looks at the likelihood of political inequality increasing, and poses one scenario in which Americans grow more unequal in their influence over their government. The counter scenario foresees a cultural shift in which citizens, rejecting what Dahl calls and#147;competitive consumerism,and#8221; invest time and energy in civic action and work to reduce the inequality that now exists among Americans.
Synopsis
Ian Shapiro investigates this political dilemma, evaluating answers that have been proposed in the utilitarian, Marxist, social contract, anti-Enlightenment, and democratic traditions.
and#147;In The Moral Foundations of Politics, Shapiro reaffirms his place as one of the very clearest and most resolute, and most solidly grounded, practitioners in the political theory field in this generation.and#8221;and#151;Adolph Reed, Jr., New School for Social Research
and#147;Blending sophisticated political science (including insightful rational choice calculations) with clarity that makes the bookand#8217;s subject accessible to neophytes, Professor Shapiro distills centuries of political theory into a slender volume.and#8221;and#151;Harvard Law Review
and#147;A deeply valuable book at many levels. Shapiro shows an almost unique ability to combine the broad sweep with the telling detail or precise insight--just what a book of this sort needs.and#8221;and#151;Jennifer Hochschild, Harvard University
Synopsis
This lucid book by the preeminent democratic theorist of our time explains the nature, value, and mechanics of democracy. This new edition includes two additional chapters by Ian Shapiro. One deals with the prospects for democracy in light of developments since the advent of the Arab spring in 2010. The other takes up the effects of inequality and money in politics on the quality of democracy, a subject that was of increasing concern to Dahl in his final years.
“Completely accessible, admirably succinct, intelligent, and even wise, On Democracy offers the ideal overview of the worst form of government except all others. Robert Dahl masterfully guides the general reader through a tour of the origins, ideals, actualities, and potentialities of democratic government. Even sophisticated students of democracy can learn a lot on this tour.”—Amy Gutman, coauthor of Democracy and Disagreement
Synopsis
Written by the preeminent democratic theorist of our time, this book explains the nature, value, and mechanics of democracy. This new edition includes two additional chapters by Ian Shapiro, Dahl’s successor as Sterling Professor of Political Science at Yale and a leading contemporary authority on democracy. One chapter deals with the prospects for democracy in light of developments since the advent of the Arab spring in 2010. The other takes up the effects of inequality and money in politics on the quality of democracy, a subject that was of increasing concern to Dahl in his final years.
“The late Robert Dahl’s On Democracy is the source for how to govern democratically. Following the methods and channeling the insight of Dahl, Ian Shapiro’s new edition completes Dahl’s project and is must reading for the next generation and essential re-reading for the present.”—Michael Doyle, Columbia University
“Dahl’s tersest summary of the lessons of his profoundly influential interrogation of democracy’s strengths and weaknesses. Ian Shapiro shows forcefully what we have learned since its initial publication.”—John Dunn, author of Breaking Democracy’s Spell
“Robert A. Dahl’s On Democracy admirably synthesized the contributions of the world’s leading democratic theorist of the twentieth century. Now Ian Shapiro intelligently carries Dahl’s queries and concerns into our own century.”—Robert D. Putnam, author of Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis
About the Author
Ian Shapiro is Sterling Professor of Political Science at Yale University and the author of Moral Foundations of Politics, Democratic Justice, and titles in the Rethinking the Western Tradition Series. Joseph Lampert is assistant professor of political science in the Hatfield School of Government at Portland State University.