Cover of Democracy and Its Critics

Democracy and Its Critics

by Robert A. Dahl · 1989

+ Want to read

In this prize-winning book, one of the most prominent political theorists of our time makes a major statement about what democracy is and why it is important. Robert Dahl examines the most basic assumptions of democratic theory, tests them against the questions raised by its critics, and recasts the theory of democracy into a new and coherent whole. He concludes by discussing the directions in which democracy must move if advanced democratic states are to exist in the future.

Read more

"When Robert Dahl speaks about democracy, everyone should listen. With Democracy and Its CriticsDahl has produced a work destined to become another classic."—Lucian W. Pye, American Political Science Review

"In this magisterial work [Dahl]... describe[s] what democracy means...; why our own democracy is still deeply flawed; and how we could reform it.... A work of extraordinary intelligence and, what is even rarer, a work of extraordinary wisdom."—Robert N. Bellah, New York Times Book Review

Robert A. Dahl, Sterling Professor of Political Science Emeritus at Yale Universtiy, is also the author of Who Governs?, After the Revolution?, Polyarchy, and Dilemmas of Pluralist Democracy,all available from Yale University Press.

Subject
politicspoliticsMore like thisLess of thisphilosophyphilosophyMore like thisLess of thiseconomicseconomicsMore like thisLess of this
Audience
adult
Length
medium · 397 pages

Click a tag to see books like this one that share it. Point at it (on a phone, tap it) for less of it instead.

Read it? Sign in to help tag it.

BuyAmazonGoogle Books

BorrowOpen LibraryA library near you

MoreCompare prices

Liked Democracy and Its Critics? Here’s where I’d start.

These suit anyone who liked Democracy and Its Critics. Sign in and mark a few books for picks shaped around your own taste.

  1. Making Democracy Work: Civic Traditions in Modern Italy Robert D. Putnam · 1992 Shares political science, politics, political theory
  2. Models of Democracy David Held · 1986 Shares politics, political science, political theory
  3. Ruling The Void: The Hollowing Of Western Democracy Peter Mair · 2009 Shares politics, political science, nonfiction
  4. Contemporary Political Philosophy Will Kymlicka · 1991 Shares politics, philosophy, political philosophy
See more recommendations →

“People who read Democracy and Its Critics tend to reach for these next.”

  1. The Mirage of Social Justice Friedrich A. Hayek · 1976
  2. The Tragedy of Great Power Politics John J. Mearsheimer · 2001
  3. The Concept of the Political Carl Schmitt · 1927
  4. Nations and Nationalism Ernest Gellner · 1983

“If you want more of the same (politics), start with these.”

  1. The Concept of Representation Hanna Fenichel Pitkin · 1967
  2. Political Theory: An Introduction Andrew Heywood · 1999
  3. The Art of Political Manipulation William H. Riker · 1986
  4. Political Ideologies: An Introduction Andrew Heywood · 1992

“If it was the political science that hooked you, try one of these.”

  1. Political Order in Changing Societies Samuel P. Huntington, Francis Fukuyama · 1968
  2. In Defense of Politics Bernard Crick · 1962
  3. The Third Wave: Democratization in the Late Twentieth Century Samuel P. Huntington · 1991
  4. Europe's Promise: Why the European Way Is the Best Hope in an Insecure Age Steven Hill · 2009

“These start from a similar idea, even if they go somewhere else with it.”

  1. The moral foundations of politics Ian Shapiro · 2003
  2. The Phantom Public · 1927
  3. The Life and Death of Democracy John Keane · 2009
  4. First Democracy: The Challenge of an Ancient Idea Paul Woodruff · 2005

Report a problem