Description

The popular pressures for reforms of the democratic process have mounted across the OECD nations over the past generation. In response, democratic institutions are changing, evolving, and expanding in ways that may alter the structure of the democratic process. These changes include reforms of the electoral process, the expansion of referendums, introduction of open government provisions, and more access points for direct political involvement. Indeed, some observers claim that we are witnessing the most fundamental transformation of the democratic process since the creation of mass democracy in the early 20th Century.

This international team of distinguished scholars assembles the evidence of how democratic institutions and processes are changing, and considers the larger implications of these reforms for the nature of democracy. The findings points to a new style of democratic politics that expands the nature of democracy, but also carries challenges for democracies to include all its citizens and govern effectively in an environment of complex government.

Features

• Comparative study of 18 advanced industrial democracies over 40 years of institutional change, presented by a group of leading international scholars
• First coverage of how democratic institutions and processes are changing
• Multi-disciplinary approach - of interest to scholars woking in electoral politics, policy making, public administration, and democratic theory

Reviews

"For those who assume that within those countries we commonly consider to be the wealthiest and most stable liberal democracies, there exists a single shape, form, and formula for democracy itself, they need to consult this bold, innovative, and informative volume.... a superb collection."--Perspectives on Politics

Product Details

328 pages; 17 line illus.; ISBN13: 978-0-19-926499-5ISBN10: 0-19-926499-6

About the Author(s)