Democracy and the Global Order: From the Modern State to Cosmopolitan Governance

by David Held

Democracy is the most potent political idea in the world today, yet the future of democracy is increasingly uncertain. Key assumptions of democratic thinking and practice are being undermined by diverse sites of social economic power on the one hand, and by dense networks of regional and global interconnectedness on the other. States and societies are enmeshed in webs of international conditions and processes as never before. Democracy and the Global Order offers a highly original and systematic account of these issues. Part I assesses the traditional conceptions of democracy. Part II traces the rise and displacement of the modern nation-state in the context of the interstate system and the world economy. Part III explores the theoretical bases of democracy and of the democratic state, and the profound changes these concepts must undergo if they are to retain their relevance in the century ahead. Finally. Part IV champions a "cosmopolitan" model of democracy—a new conception of democracy for a new world order.

Genres: Academic, Political Science

336 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 1995

Reviews

[Guilherme Casarões · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best works to bridge the gap between domestic and international, democracy and world politics. Held offers thorough and persuasive arguments, even if some bits are especially tough to overcome due to his writing style. Besides, some (myself included) might reckon he overrates the role attributed to WWII and the UN in creating a new world order - which he labels 'UN-Charter model of international politics'. While power-politics realists would certainly treat this book with disdain, any PS/IR student who's interested in the (not-so-)new trends of global politics and democratic theory should try it.

[Ft. Sheridan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't learn a ton from this, but an ok overview.