What Democracy Is For: On Freedom and Moral Government

by Stein Ringen

In this provocative book, Stein Ringen argues that the world's democracies are failing to live up to their ideals--the United States and Great Britain most especially. The core value of democracy, he contends, is freedom, the freedom to live a good life according to one's own choosing. Yet he shows that democracy's freedom is on the decline. Citizens are increasingly distrustful of political systems weighted by money, and they don't participate in political affairs as they once did. Ringen warns of the risks we face if this trend continues, and puts forth an ambitious proposal for democratic reforms.


The issues that concern him are ones that should concern us all. They include education, poverty, the social and economic roles of families, the lack of democracy in our economic lives, and the need to rejuvenate municipal democracy. Along the way, Ringen proposes policy solutions aimed at restoring democracy, such as universal vouchers for education, substituting the principle of individual insurance for social-welfare pensions, and rethinking how we measure poverty in rich and poor countries. He calls for the revival of local democracy, a democratically grounded global economy, and the protection of political democracy from the transgressions of economic power.


The way to protect democracy is not to cheer it, but to reform it. What Democracy Is For offers a bold defense of democratic ideals, grounded in real reforms.

Genres: Politics

Hardcover

First published April 1, 2007

About the author

Stein Ringen (born July 5, 1945) is a Norwegian sociologist and political scientist. He is Professor of Sociology and Social Policy at the Department of Social Policy and Intervention, University of Oxford, and a Fellow of Green Templeton College, Oxford (formerly Green College, Oxford).

Early life and education
Ringen holds a magister degree in political science (a 7-year degree including 3 years of research) from the University of Oslo (1972) and a Dr. philos. degree from the University of Oslo (1987).

Career
He has been a visiting professor at Université de Paris I - Panthéon Sorbonne (1995, 1996), École Normale Supérieure de Cachan (1996-1997), Masaryk University (2003), Charles University (2003), University of the West Indies (2004, 2006) and Wissenschaftszentrum Berlin für Sozialforschung (2006).

Books
2023: The Story of Scandinavia: From the Vikings to Social Democracy
2016: The Perfect Dictatorship: China in the 21st Century[2][3]
2013: Nation of Devils: Democratic Leadership and the Problem of Obedience, Yale Univ. Press[1]
2009: The Economic Consequences of Mr Brown
2007: What Democracy Is For
2006: The Possibility of Politics (new edition)
2005: Citizens, Families, and Reform (new edition)
2004: Norges nye befolkning
2000: Veien til det gode liv'
1999: Ordet som er (co-author)
1998: The Family in Question
1997: Reformdemokratiet

Reviews

[Esra · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book to check back upon. It was thought provoking and informative. Recommended.