Introduction

This book sees how strong political equality among citizens can be reconciled with the conditions of the modern state and can provide guidance in the design of just democratic institutions. It examines the meaning and basis of democratic ideals, and inquires into whether and how democracy is a just or fair way of making decisions about the laws and policies that bind us all. The book explores the arguments political thinkers have offered to justify and explain our allegiance to democratic ideals. The ideals of democracy suggest that citizens ought to play a very substantial role in the governance of their society. In a democratic society every individual or at least every group with distinctive interests ought to have a hearing in the process of discussion leading up to the choices that must be made. This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of the book.