Overview

For more than two hundred years Americans have been debating how direct a democracy they want. Many hold that representative government too seldom reflects the people's real views, while others counter that direct popular voting will lead to excesses of passion and deficits of deliberation. In Democracy: How Direct? Elliot Abrams brings together eminent scholars to discuss the issues surrounding the dilemma of a representative versus direct democracy. This collection of previously unpublished essays begins by examining the views of our nation's founders and the historical perspectives on our democracy and then debates modern issues such as polling, public opinion, and the referendum process. With their valuable combination of historical analysis, contemporary data, and theoretical understanding, these essays will surely raise the level of the ongoing debate surrounding the nature of American democracy.

Full Product Details

Author:   Elliott Abrams ,  Herman Belz ,  James S. Fishkin ,  Benjamin Ginsberg
Publisher:   Rowman & Littlefield
Imprint:   Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Dimensions:   Width: 14.80cm , Height: 1.00cm , Length: 22.80cm
Weight:   0.231kg
ISBN:  

9780742523197

ISBN 10:   0742523195
Pages:   144
Publication Date:   15 August 2002
Audience:   College/higher education ,  Professional and scholarly ,  Undergraduate ,  Postgraduate, Research & Scholarly
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   In Print  
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Table of Contents

Chapter 1 Preface Chapter 2 The Founders' Views of Direct Democracy and Representation Chapter 3 James Madison and the Spirit of 1787 Chapter 4 Lincoln's View of Direct Democracy and Public Opinion Chapter 5 Beyond Referendum Democracy: Competing Concepts of Public Opinion Chapter 6 Polling and the Creation of a Virtual Public Chapter 7 Response: Refined and Enlarged Public Opinion Chapter 8 For the People: Direct Democracy in the State Constitutional Tradition Chapter 9 People Power: Initiative and Referendum in the United States Chapter 10 Why Initiatives Are Necessary: Some Tales from California

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Author Information

Elliott Abrams, former president of the Ethics and Public Policy Center, is special assistant to the President and the National Security Council's senior director for democracy, human rights, and international operations.

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