Introduction

This collection of essays is premised on the idea that increased democratization of the body politic is a good thing. As democracies become more democratic, they improve themselves and the political well-being of their members. Increased democratization further opens the public sphere to diverse opinion and thereby offers actors an increased stake in deliberative decision-making. Actors can rightly expect that their expressed interests and insights will be genuinely recognized and engaged by signifi cant others, and so they are motivated to seize upon opportunities for meaningful input into matters of import to themselves and their progeny. All this and more creates a positive rippling effect across the political landscape that culminates in better informed and refl exive political action.