The popular pressures for reforms of the democratic process have mounted across the OECD nations over the past generation. In response, democratic institutions are changing, evolving, and expanding in ways that may alter the structure of the democratic process. These changes include reforms of the electoral process, the expansion of referendums, introduction of open government provisions, and more access points for direct political involvement. Indeed, some observers claim that we are witnessing the most fundamental transformation of the democratic process since the creation of mass democracy in the early 20th Century. This international team of distinguished scholars assembles the evidence of how democratic institutions and processes are changing, and considers the larger implications of these reforms for the nature of democracy. The findings point to a new style of democratic politics that expands the nature of democracy, but also carries challenges for democracies to include all its citizens and govern effectively in an environment of complex government.
30% off all books in the Comparative Politics Series for ECPR Member affiliates – please contact editorial@ecpr.eu for more details on how to claim the discount.
For those who assume that within those countries we commonly consider to be the wealthiest and most stable liberal democracies, there exists a single shape, form, and formula for democracy itself, they need to consult this bold, innovative, and informative volume... a superb collection. -- 'Perspectives on Politics'
Bruce E Cain is a Professor of political science at Stanford University and director of the Bill Lane Center for the American West. Cain's fields of interest include American politics, political regulation, democratic theory, and state and local government. He has written extensively on elections, legislative representation, California politics, redistricting, and political regulation.
Russell J Dalton is Research Professor at the Center for the Study of Democracy at UC Irvine. His research focuses on the role of citizens in the democratic process, involving the topics of political culture, electoral politics, and political representation. Dalton’s most recent books include The Good Citizen (2020), Political Realignment—Economics, Culture and Electoral Change (2018), The Participation Gap (2017), and The Civic Culture Transformed (2015). He has received a Fulbright Professorship at the University of Mannheim, a Barbra Streisand Center Fellowship, German Marshall Research Fellowship, and a POSCO Fellowship at the East/West Center.
Susan Scarrow is Professor of Political Science at the University of Houston. Her scholarship and teaching has focused on representation and electoral institutions, including political party development, direct democracy, and political finance. Her prior publications include Parties and their Members (Oxford University Press), Perspectives on Political Parties (Palgrave), and Democracy Transformed? (Oxford University Press, edited with Russell J. Dalton and Bruce Cain).
Christopher Ansell is Professor of Political Science, University of California, Berkeley.
Shaun Bowler received his Ph.D from Washington University, St. Louis and joined the UCR faculty in 1989. Professor Bowler's research interests include comparative electoral systems and voting behaviour. His work examines the relationship between institutional arrangements and voter choice in a variety of settings ranging from the Republic of Ireland to California's initiative process. Professor Bowler is the author of Demanding Choices: Opinion Voting and Direct Democracy with Todd Donovan, University of Michigan Press (1998). He is Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of California, Riverside.
Elisabeth Carter is Senior Lecturer in Politics in the School of Social, Political and Global Studies at Keele University.
Rachel Cichowski is a Professor in the Departments of Political Science and Law, Societies and Justice, University of Washington.
Patrick Egan is a political scientist in the Charles and Louise Travers Department of Political Science at the University of California, Berkeley. He studies public opinion, public policy, and their relationship in American politics using formal and empirical research methods.
Sergio Fabbrini is Professor of Political Science, University of Toronto.
David Farrell holds the Chair of Politics at University College Dublin. A specialist in parties, electoral systems and representation, Professor Farrell’s most recent book was the award-winning Political Parties and Democratic Linkage, published by Oxford University Press in 2011. He was the research director of the Irish Constitutional Convention.
Jane Gingrich is Professor at the Politics and International Relations Department, Magdalen College, Oxford University. Her main research interests involve comparative political economy and comparative social policy.
Mark M Gray is a Research Associate Professor at Georgetown University and the Director of CARA Catholic Polls at Georgetown's Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA).
Miki Caul Kittilson is Professor in the School of Politics and Global Studies at Arizona State University. Her research focuses on challenges to democratic inclusion across a variety of countries. She has previously published articles and books on women, gender and politics, political parties, courts, and political participation. She is the co-author of Seeing Women, Strengthening Democracy: How Women in Politics Foster Connected Citizens (with Magda Hinojosa) Her research has also appeared in journals such as the American Journal of Political Science, the Journal of Politics, International Organization, Comparative Political Studies, Politics, Groups and Identities, Perspectives on Politics, Party Politics, Political Behavior, and Politics and Gender.
Alec Stone Sweet is an American political scientist and jurist. He is Professor and Chair of Comparative and International Law at The University of Hong Kong.
Mark E Warren holds the Harold and Dorrie Merilees Chair for the Study of Democracy at the University of British Columbia. He is especially interested in democratic innovations, civil society and democratic governance, and political corruption. Warren is author of Democracy and Association (Princeton University Press), editor of Democracy and Trust (Cambridge University Press) and co-editor of Designing Deliberative Democracy: The British Columbia Citizens’ Assembly (Cambridge University Press 2008). His work has appeared in journals such as the American Political Science Review, American Journal of Political Science and Political Theory. He is currently working with an international team on a project called Participedia, which uses a web-based platform to document democratic innovations around the world.
Russell J Dalton is Research Professor at the Center for the Study of Democracy at UC Irvine. His research focuses on the role of citizens in the democratic process, involving the topics of political culture, electoral politics, and political representation. Dalton’s most recent books include The Good Citizen (2020), Political Realignment—Economics, Culture and Electoral Change (2018), The Participation Gap (2017), and The Civic Culture Transformed (2015). He has received a Fulbright Professorship at the University of Mannheim, a Barbra Streisand Center Fellowship, German Marshall Research Fellowship, and a POSCO Fellowship at the East/West Center.
