John Keane | The Future of Representative Democracy
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The Future of Representative Democracy

The Future of Representative Democracy

Edited by: Sonia Alonso, John Keane and Wolfgang Merkel
Paperback: 328 pages
Publisher: Cambridge University Press; Reissue edition (April 29, 2011)
ISBN-10: 9780521177030
ISBN-13: 978-0521177030

The Future of Representative Democracy presents an integrated collection of contributions on the subject of representation, representative democracy and its future. Guided by the last major investigation of the subject by Hanna Fenichel Pitkin, over four decades ago, the volume addresses vital gaps in the relevant literature and stresses the importance of the past for the present and future of representative democracy. Aware of the pressing need for clarifying key concepts, the volume recognises the advantages of breaking down barriers among disciplines and establishing an interdisciplinary dialogue among scholars. Finally, the contributors agree that representative democracy and its future matters and that it is a subject of pressing scholarly concern and public importance. With a close eye on the unfinished, two-century-old relationship between democracy and representation, the volume develops fresh perspectives on the current problems of representative democracy and the possible future development of new forms of democratic representation.

John Keane’s co-edited book, The Future of Representative Democracy will be published in March 2011

‘A valuable collection of essays which succeeds in assessing the development of democracy by placing it in wider historical and theoretical context – enlightening, compelling and fascinating.’

Frank Ankersmit, University of Groningen

‘This work considers the nature and future of representative democracy, including its current ills and some remedies. The contributors agree that there is no ‘crisis’ of this most successful political form since World War II; yet they see ‘something new’ evolving that they try to grasp with a sense of guarded optimism.’

Claus Offe, Professor of Political Science, Hertie School of Governance, Berlin

-> A review by Jean-Paul Gagnon in Journal of Democratic Theory 1, 4 (2011) 73-82

-> A review by Jan Zielonka in Journal of West European Politics, 35, 3 (2012) 694-696

->Another review by Edgar Göll in IPG, 4/2011, pp. 176-177 ranks the book as ‘most highly recommended’ (PDF)

-> A synopsis in German