Deliberative Democracy and Social Movements

Reviews / Votes

Integrating deliberative democratic theory and empirical analysis, Deliberative Democracy and Social Movements offers a fresh analysis of the Transition movement through case studies in Australia and Italy. Felicetti methodically and contextually examines the deliberative capacity of each case study in terms of authenticity, inclusivity, and social impact. In so doing the book represents a significant advance in both deliberative democratic theory and social movement analysis of sustainability oriented active citizenship initiatives. Deliberative Democracy and Social Movements is a pioneering study, the first attempt to map and conceptualise 'deliberative opportunity structures' and deliberative capacity. -- John Barry, Queens University Belfast Andrea Felicetti finds a potential for public deliberation within social movements seeking to forestall climate change through community activism. This 'Transition' movement can, at times, create authentic, inclusive, and consequential spaces for public debate. By studying four cases with varied results, Felicetti helps us see how social movements can dovetail with the more abstract aims of deliberative democracy to transform simultaneously environmental policy and politics itself. -- John Gastil, co-author of Legislature by lot: Transformative Designs for Deliberative Governance Andrea Felicetti has used a rare combination of theoretical frameworks and qualitative research to produce something that few other works on deliberative democracy can offer: real guidance for activists who want to be both democratic and effective, and real-world tests of theorists' ideals. This book will be valuable not only to deliberative democrats, but social movement scholars and activists alike. -- John Parkinson, Professor of Politics, Griffith University