Rationality and power : democracy in practice / Bent Flyvbjerg ; translated by Steven Sampson.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Flyvbjerg, Bent.

Series:

Morality and society

Standardized Title:

Case-baseret studie af planlægning, politik og modernitet. English

Language:

Danish

English

Subjects (All):

Democracy.

Ålborg (Denmark)--Politics and government.

Ålborg (Denmark).

Democracy--Denmark--Ålborg.

Denmark--Ålborg.

Physical Description:

xiii, 290 pages : illustrations, map ; 24 cm.

Place of Publication:

Chicago : University of Chicago Press, 1998.

Summary:

In the Enlightenment tradition, rationality is considered well-defined, independent of context; we know what rationality is, and its meaning is constant across time and space. However, Bent Flyvbjerg argues that rationality is context-dependent and that the crucial context is determined by decision-makers' political power.

Flyvbjerg takes us behind the scenes to uncover the real politics -- and real rationality -- of public administration and planning in an internationally acclaimed project for environmental improvement in the Danish city of Aalborg. The result is a fascinating narrative that is both concrete and general, current and timeless. Drawing on the ideas of Machiavelli, Nietzsche, Habermas, and Foucault, Flyvbjerg reads the Aalborg case as a metaphor of modernity and of modern politics. Flyvbjerg shows how power actually distorted deliberation over a policy aimed at, among other things, reducing auto traffic in downtown Aalborg. He demonstrates how modern "rationality" can only be an ideal when confronted with the real rationalities involved in decision making by administrators and policy makers. Flyvbjerg then elaborates on how this problem can be avoided so that fruitful deliberation and action can occur.

"Impressive in its detail and comprehensiveness -- rare for an issue of this kind". -- Robert A. Dahl, Yale University

"Superb, a real break-through. It will be a classic in its field". -- C. Roland Christensen, Harvard University

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references (pages 249-275) and index.

ISBN:

0226254496

0226254518

OCLC:

36942472