The State of Democratic Theory

In this comprehensive and intelligent survey of democratic theory, Shapiro argues that the goal of democracy should not be to achieve a""common good,"" but rather to manage the""power relations to minimize domination."" In presenting his evidence, Shapiro analyzes the political theories of dozens of philosophers and academics, from the celebrated 18th-century thinkers Rousseau and Madison to the more modern theorists Schumpeter and Foucault. His perspective is essentially pragmatic. Whether evaluating hierarchical relations, the exercise of governmental power or the position of the vulnerable, his primary aim is to assess how various theoretical frameworks ignore, or address,""the actual operation of democratic politics."" What is most important, he believes, is to consider""what we should expect of democracy, and how those expectations might best be realized in practice."" Such a down-to-earth approach is refreshing; however, Shapiro's dense, jargon-filled prose makes this book more appropriate for academics and specialists than for general readers.