Democracy

David Beetham is Professor Emeritus of Politics at the University of Leeds, a Fellow of the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex, and Associate Director of the UK Democratic Audit. He is the author and editor of numerous books and papers, including Political Power and Democratic Control in Britain (with Stuart Weir, 1999). He has travelled internationally in his capacity as consultant on democracy assessment, and is a leading contributor to the field of human rights.

• OneIntroduction: What is Democracy?TwoDemocratic Ideas at Work in PracticeCitizen rightsInstitutions of representative and accountable governmentThe associational life of civil societyThreeSources of Disillusion in the ‘Old’ DemocraciesDecline in government autonomyDecline in government capacityDeclining credibilityFourSuccess and Setback in the New and Emergent DemocraciesLegacies of transitionProblems of consolidating and deepening democracyStateNationReligionEconomyFiveGlobalising DemocracyDemocracy promotionDemocratising global institutionsDemocracy and the European UnionSixReviving Democracy: New Forms of ParticipationParticipation in governmentCo-decision in devolved governmentDeliberative opinion polls and citizens’ juriesReferenda and citizens’ initiativesDigital democracySevenConclusion: Getting ActiveGlossary of key termsList of democracy and human rights organisations and websites

"Much more than an excellent introduction to 'democracy'. An informative, engaging, and inspiring book that goes beyond what one would expect in a 'beginner's' guide, without making itself inaccessible."