What Democracy Is For
On Freedom and Moral Government
1st Edition
Published on 9. March 2009
336 pages
978-1-4008-3167-8 (ISBN)
Description
In this provocative book, Stein Ringen argues that the world's democracies are failing to live up to their ideals--the United States and Great Britain most especially. The core value of democracy, he contends, is freedom, the freedom to live a good life according to one's own choosing. Yet he shows that democracy's freedom is on the decline. Citizens are increasingly distrustful of political systems weighted by money, and they don't participate in political affairs as they once did. Ringen warns of the risks we face if this trend continues, and puts forth an ambitious proposal for democratic reforms.
The issues that concern him are ones that should concern us all. They include education, poverty, the social and economic roles of families, the lack of democracy in our economic lives, and the need to rejuvenate municipal democracy. Along the way, Ringen proposes policy solutions aimed at restoring democracy, such as universal vouchers for education, substituting the principle of individual insurance for social-welfare pensions, and rethinking how we measure poverty in rich and poor countries. He calls for the revival of local democracy, a democratically grounded global economy, and the protection of political democracy from the transgressions of economic power.
The way to protect democracy is not to cheer it, but to reform it. What Democracy Is For offers a bold defense of democratic ideals, grounded in real reforms.
The issues that concern him are ones that should concern us all. They include education, poverty, the social and economic roles of families, the lack of democracy in our economic lives, and the need to rejuvenate municipal democracy. Along the way, Ringen proposes policy solutions aimed at restoring democracy, such as universal vouchers for education, substituting the principle of individual insurance for social-welfare pensions, and rethinking how we measure poverty in rich and poor countries. He calls for the revival of local democracy, a democratically grounded global economy, and the protection of political democracy from the transgressions of economic power.
The way to protect democracy is not to cheer it, but to reform it. What Democracy Is For offers a bold defense of democratic ideals, grounded in real reforms.
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03/2009
Princeton University Press
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Princeton University Press
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Person
Stein Ringen is Professor of Sociology and Social Policy at the University of Oxford. His books include Citizens, Families, and Reform and The Possibility of Politics.
Content
Acknowledgments ix
INTRODUCTION 1
CHAPTER 1: How Good Are the Good Democracies? 13
CHAPTER 2: Is Economic Democracy Available? 48
CHAPTER 3: What Should Welfare States Do? 72
CHAPTER 4: Can We Eradicate Poverty? 111
CHAPTER 5: What Do Families Do? 149
CHAPTER 6: Where Does Freedom Come From? 184
CONCLUSIONS 217
APPENDIX A: The Truth About Class Inequality 239
APPENDIX B: How Good Is the Kindest Democracy? 256
APPENDIX C: What Does a Good Press Look Like? 269
APPENDIX D: The Flat-Tax Issue 277
APPENDIX E: The Basic-Minimum-Income Issue 279
APPENDIX F: The Index Problem 283
APPENDIX G: Social Anchorage 288
References 297
Index 315
INTRODUCTION 1
CHAPTER 1: How Good Are the Good Democracies? 13
CHAPTER 2: Is Economic Democracy Available? 48
CHAPTER 3: What Should Welfare States Do? 72
CHAPTER 4: Can We Eradicate Poverty? 111
CHAPTER 5: What Do Families Do? 149
CHAPTER 6: Where Does Freedom Come From? 184
CONCLUSIONS 217
APPENDIX A: The Truth About Class Inequality 239
APPENDIX B: How Good Is the Kindest Democracy? 256
APPENDIX C: What Does a Good Press Look Like? 269
APPENDIX D: The Flat-Tax Issue 277
APPENDIX E: The Basic-Minimum-Income Issue 279
APPENDIX F: The Index Problem 283
APPENDIX G: Social Anchorage 288
References 297
Index 315
