ABSTRACT
The current form of democracy with its focus on elections and representation is revealing increasing dysfunctions. It is not necessarily the best way for communities to govern themselves and surely not the ‘end of history’. Attempting to provide other options, several scholars praise their favored preset model, practice or procedure as a supposedly better alternative. They advocate, for example, mini-publics or direct democracy. This book argues for a new approach. It bids farewell to the false impression that any predetermined model, practices or procedures are the best way of organizing every and all communities. It suggests giving communities and citizens back the real power to deliberate and to decide how they want to govern themselves. It strongly advocates that citizens should be the authors and owners of their democracies.
