The Rule of the Many: Fundamental Issues in Democratic Theory

by Thomas Christiano

There is no problem more crucial to contemporary political thought than the status of democracy, its role, and its problems in the contemporary world. In this survey of democratic theory, Thomas Christiano introduces the reader to the principles underlying democracy and to the problems involved in applying these principles to real life situations.Begining with the simple, democratically inspired presumption that the interests of all citizens are to be treated equally, Christiano argues that the implications of such a minimal commitment clarify the nature of democracy and what must be demanded of democratic institutions. He argues that it is the collision of this demand for equality with the fact of pluralism of interests that determines how democratic institutions ought to be designed. This strong sense of reality will be welcomed by those interested in practical questions of transition in newly democratizing states.Christiano combines a broad coverage of important positions taken by others with the exposition of his own ideas, allowing his text to appeal to a wide range of readers, from introductory students to experienced scholars. Clear, accessible, and often elegant, The Rule of the Many is a splendid introduction to democratic theory, one that will take its place as both an important scholarly contribution and as an effective text.

Genres: Philosophy

310 pages, Paperback

First published July 28, 1996

Reviews

[Sergei Moska · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really good, solid book. It's weird that the back cover tries to sell the book as both a strong original contribution to democratic theory as well as a good introduction to the topic. It is certainly the former, and almost certainly not the latter. That's not to say that someone with no democratic theory background wouldn't get a lot out of the book - he or she would. But that's more a testament to the incredible clarity of Christiano's writing style. His explanations leave you feeling like he covered the entire subtopic he's dealing with at any given time, and has done so in depth. In some cases he has not, and in other cases his explanations are too fleeting for this to serve as an introductory text.

But for what it is, it's a really good book. I take issue with some of his arguments, but that applies to virtually anyone's ever written, ever.