ABSTRACT

Democratic politics involves a series of multi-directional conversations. Effective conversations have the potential to engage, educate, and animate both citizens and governmental officials. On the individual level, discovering successful conversational strategies benefits both political and social interaction. This book offers guidelines for conducting effective conversations personally, politically, and beyond such that readers of this book are unlikely to ever again look at conversation in the same way. New technologies and social trends both challenge and potentially enhance traditional face-to-face and media dominated conversations. Understanding the state, quality and potential of political conversations provides a unique perspective for evaluating and potentially improving government "by the people."

chapter 1|12 pages

Politics and Democracy as Conversation

chapter 2|12 pages

Characteristics of a Good Conversation

chapter 3|28 pages

Conversational Strategies

chapter 4|13 pages

The Value of Conversation in a Democracy

chapter 7|17 pages

The Language of Political Conversation

chapter 8|23 pages

The New Technology of Conversation

chapter 9|28 pages

Institutionalized Conversation

chapter 10|7 pages

Beyond Talking