Democracy as the Political Empowerment of the Citizen: Direct-Deliberative e-Democracy [Hardcover]

Majid Behrouzi (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0739110284 | ISBN-13: 978-0739110287 | Publication Date: May 17, 2005

Democracy as the Political Empowerment of the Citizen: Direct-Deliberative e-Democracy conceptualizes the age-old idea of democracy in a new way. The fundamental idea underlying this new conceptualization is the now-neglected notion of the people's sovereignty. Although democracy means rule by the people, the people cannot rule unless they are empowered to do so. In order to introduce the notion of sovereignty, and its direct exercise into the liberal-democratic conceptual scheme, this book attempts to "individuate" the idea of the people's sovereignty via individuating the notion of the political empowerment of the people. Using the existing theoretical framework of American liberal democracy as its theoretical grounds, Majid Behrouzi argues that present-day American society has at its disposal the material and technological means and infrastructures (e.g. "e-technologies"), and the political-cultural institutions needed for the actualization of the idea of the direct exercise of the individuated sovereign powers. Together with its companion volume, Democracy as the Political Empowerment of the People: The Betrayal of an Ideal, this book is essential to scholars interested in the evolution of modern democracy and the future of politics and political technology.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The effort to construct a positive alternative to social/rational choice theory is highly welcome. . . . The scholarship is first-rate. This is the strength of the manuscript. . . . The scope of the literature covered is broad, and there is also remarkable depth of coverage in all sections . . . a fresh approach to confronting social choice theorists and economic theorists of democracy who are skeptical of the democratic accuracy of voting, preference aggregation, and interest-representation. (Richard Wellen )

Democracy as the Political Empowerment of the Citizen: Direct-Deliberative e-Democracy proposes a creative new way to reconcile participatory democracy with the reality of large-scale mass society at the beginning of the 21st century. It attempts to harness new interactive technologies to the existing representative institutions of liberal democracy. A useful addition to the literature on democratic theory. (Philip Resnick )

Majid Behrouzi's exhaustive and illuminating account of democracy as the 'rule by the people' takes on increased importance with new demands, in the U.S. and around the world, for citizens’ substantive participation in the democratic process. Behrouzi puts pressure on democracy to live up to its full ideal and exposes those conceptions of democracy that betray its promise. In his second volume, he finds the solution in e-democracy—a stunning account backed by a genuinely illuminating and full theory. (Joseph P. DeMarco )

Attempts to resolve the theoretical problems of Rousseau's general will through the technical means provided by various modern technologies. [Behrouzi] concludes that direct-deliberative e-democracy can technologically resolve 'some of the important questions that have dogged political philosophy for the longest time.' Clearly written and accessible to undergraduates. Highly Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and above. (Choice )

Behrouzi's Democracy as the Political Empowerment of the Citizen: Direct-Deliberative e-Democracy offers a careful account of how modern technology and existing socio-economic infrastructure can be harnessed to achieve genuine democracy in the United States. Building on the companion volume, Democracy as the Political empowerment of the Citizen: The Betrayal of an Ideal, Behrouzi argues that the ideal of democracy as the sovereignty of the people cannot be represented but can be empowered by individual citizens exercising their individuated sovereign powers directly. Through developments such as e-technologies, Behrouzi argues optimistically that our generation is in the unique position to be able to establish the first feasible democratic society in history. (Lesley Jacobs )

About the Author

Majid Behrouzi holds a Ph.D. in philosophy from York University, Canada. In addition to philosophy, he has also studied mathematics and engineering and holds advanced degrees in these fields. He currently teaches mathematics and philosophy in Cleveland.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 252 pages
• Publisher: Lexington Books (May 17, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0739110284
• ISBN-13: 978-0739110287
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,871,621 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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