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Distributed for University of British Columbia Press

Deliberative Democracy in Practice

Deliberative democracy is a dominant paradigm in normative political philosophy. Deliberative democrats want politics to be more than a clash of contending interests, and they believe political decisions should emerge from reasoned dialogue among citizens. But can these ideals be realized in complex and unjust societies? This book brings together leading scholars who explore debates in deliberative democratic theory in four areas of practice: education, constitutions and state boundaries, indigenous-settler relations, and citizen participation and public consultation. This dynamic volume casts new light on the strengths and limitations of deliberative democratic theory, offering guidance to policy makers and to students and scholars interested in democratic justice.

264 pages | © 2009


Table of Contents

Introduction / Daniel Weinstock and David Kahane

Part 1: Educating Deliberative Citizens

1 Conceptions of the Good: Challenging the Premises of Deliberative Democracy / Micheline Milot

2 Religious Belief, Religious Schooling, and the Demands of Reciprocity / Harry Brighouse

3 Religious Education and Democratic Character / Paul Weithman

Part 2: Deliberative Democracy, Constitutions, and the Boundaries of Deliberation

4 Open versus Closed Constitutional Negotiation / Simone Chambers

5 Is Democracy a Means to Global Justice? / James Bohman

Part 3: Deliberative Democracy and Indigenous Peoples

6 Deliberative Democracy and the Politics of Reconciliation / Duncan Ivison

7 Resisting Culture: Seyla Benhabib’s Deliberative Approach to the Politics of Recognition in Colonial Contexts / Glen Coulthard

8 The Implications of Incommensurability for Deliberative Democracy / Jorge M. Valadez

Part 4: Citizen Dialogue and Decision Making in a Deliberative Democracy

9 Public Opinion and Popular Will / Henry S. Richardson

10 Consulting the Public Thoughtfully: Prospects for Deliberative Democracy / James Fishkin

11 The Micropolitics of Deliberation: Beyond Argumentation to Recognition and Justice / John Forester and David Kahane

References

Index

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