Can Democracy Safeguard the Future?
1st Edition
Published on 31. December 2020
Book
Hardback
160 pages
978-1-5095-3924-6 (ISBN)
Description
Our democracies repeatedly fail to safeguard the future. From pensions to pandemics, health and social care through to climate, biodiversity and emerging technologies, democracies have been unable to deliver robust policies for the long term.
In this book, Graham Smith, a leading scholar of democratic theory and practice, asks why? Exploring the drivers of the short-termism that dominate contemporary politics, he considers ways of reshaping legislatures and constitutions and proposes strengthening independent offices whose overarching goals do not change at every election. More radically, Smith argues that forms of participatory and deliberative politics offer the most effective democratic response to the current political myopia as well as a powerful means of protecting the interests of generations to come.
Reviews / Votes
"Crystal clear and utterly persuasive, Graham Smith makes a compelling case for bringing future generations into the democratic process. Can Democracy Safeguard the Future? offers a wealth of fascinating and powerful evidence that shows how deliberative mechanisms are the key to forging a new age of intergenerational justice. Essential reading for anyone who wants to be a good ancestor."Roman Krznaric, author of The Good Ancestor: How to Think Long Term in a Short-Term World
"Anyone asking about the future, "What shall we do?" should read this book. You'll get a careful, engaging look at the institutions we human beings have so far devised to try to protect future generations, showing why some work and some do not, and how we might blend together the best of different models. I didn't know 90% of what's in this book -- and I thought I knew quite a lot."
Jane Mansbridge, Harvard University, recipient of the 2018 Skytte Prize and former President of the American Political Science Association
More details
Other editions
Additional editions
Graham Smith
Can Democracy Safeguard the Future?
E-Book
03/2021
1st Edition
Wiley
€10.99
Available for download
Graham Smith
Can Democracy Safeguard the Future?
E-Book
02/2021
1st Edition
Wiley
€10.99
Available for download
Grahame Smith
Can Democracy Safeguard the Future?
Book
12/2020
1st Edition
Polity Press
€13.00
Shipment within 15-20 days
Person
Graham Smith is Professor of Politics and Director of the Centre for the Study of Democracy at the University of Westminster, and Chair of the Foundation for Democracy and Sustainable Development. He is an internationally recognised expert on citizens' assemblies.
Content
Table of contents:
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1: Failing to Deal with the Long-Term
Chapter 2: Reimagining Established Institutions
Chapter 3: Bringing in an Independent Voice
Chapter 4: Deepening Democracy for the Long-Term
Afterword: Democratic Design for Future Generations
Further Reading
Notes