Deliberation, Social choice and Absolutist Democracy (Routledge Innovations in Political Theory, 22)

Social choice theory and theories of deliberative discourse have deeply impacted on the way political scientists understand the dynamics of democratic politics and decision-making. Deliberation, Social Choice and Absolutist Democracy addresses the dispute between these competing schools of thought. Deliberative democracy and social choice theorists offer the two dominant and competing conceptions of participation in contemporary democratic theory. With the former holding that theories of discourse tell us that through the democratic process we can arrive at consensus, rational outcomes and even principles of justice, while the latter suggest that fair and equal participation is more likely to lead to instability and irrational outcomes. With an in-depth examination of social choice theory and deliberative democracy, David van Mill: presents two case studies on the American Continental Congress 1774-1789 provides an assessment of the types of institutions that will promote radical democracy and create stable outcomes with the minimum sacrifice of the freedom and equality of participants defends a more radical idea of absolutist democracy, gleaned from the writings of Hobbes, against the claims made in favour of limited constitutional government. This book will be of interest to students and researchers of political theory, particularly those with an interest in democracy and social choice theory. Social Choice Theory And Theories Of Deliberative Discourse Have Strongly Influenced The Way Political Scientists Understand The Dynamics Of Democratic Politics And Decision-making. This New Book Addresses The Dispute Between These Competing Schools Of Thought.--jacket. Introduction -- Overview Of The Chapters -- A Comparison Of Social Choice And Deliberative Theories Of Democracy -- Introduction -- Discourse And Democracy -- Social Choice Theory -- Criticisms Of Deliberative Democracy -- Criticisms Of Social Choice Theory -- Conclusion -- Circumventing Arrow's Theorem -- Introduction -- What Hope For Democracy? -- Can Deliberative Democracy And Social Choice Theory Be Made Compatible? -- Abandoning Democratic Purity -- Limiting Participation -- Conclusion -- An Empirical Test Of Social Choice And Deliberative Theories Of Democracy -- Introduction -- A Broad Description Of The Institution -- Case Studies : Administration And Governance Of The West, And The Location Of The Capital -- Conclusion -- Hobbesian Sovereignty -- Introduction -- Hobbesian Sovereignty -- Hobbes's Intentions -- Success? -- Conclusion : Hobbesian Absolutism Revisited -- Democracy Versus Constitutionalism -- Introduction -- The Fear Of The Majority -- Free Speech -- Back To Constitutions -- The British Constitution -- Conclusion : Limits On Parliamentary Supremacy. David Van Mill. Simultaneously Published In The Usa And Canada By Routledge. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [176]-182) And Index. Social choice theory and theories of deliberative discourse have deeply impacted on the way political scientists understand the dynamics of democratic politics and decision-making. This essential volume addresses the dispute between these competing schools of thought.