Democracy in a Russian mirror / edited by Adam Przeworski, New York University.

Format:

Book

Contributor:

Przeworski, Adam, editor.

Series:

Cambridge studies in the theory of democracy ; 11.

Cambridge studies in the theory of democracy ; 11

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Democracy--Russia (Federation).

Democracy.

Democracy--Russia.

Russia (Federation)--Politics and government--1991-.

Russia (Federation).

Russia--Politics and government.

Russia.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xv, 336 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Place of Publication:

Cambridge : Cambridge University Press, 2015.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

What can we learn about democracy from the experience of post-Soviet Russia? What can we learn about the prospects for democracy in Russia from the experience of 'really existing democracies'? Must some 'pre-requisites', cultural or material, be fulfilled for democracy to become possible? This book examines the current state of Russia and the prospects for democracy, posing several challenges to our understanding of democracy. Thirteen contributors expand the debate over these questions, offering a variety of insights, interpretations, and conclusions vital to understanding the conditions of emergence and survival of successful democracies.

Contents:

Cover; Half title; Series; Title; Copyright; Contents; Contributors; Introduction; Part I Russia; 1 Peculiarities of Russian Politics; 1.1 The Law of the Pendulum; 1.2 On Elections; 1.3 On Sovereign Democracy; 1.4 A Response to My Critics; 2 Imitating Democracy, Feigning Capacity; 2.1 Introduction; 2.2 A Procrustian Dichotomy; 2.3 Two Incarnations, One System; 2.4 The Great Disconnect; 2.5 Why Steal Elections?; 2.6 Shock-Absorber Parties; 2.7 Democracy and Its Preconditions; 2.8 Detached and Disjointed; 3 Russian Perspectives on Democracy, Political Emancipation, and Integrity

3.1 Introduction3.2 Primeval democracy; 3.3 Authority versus People; 3.4 Sovereignty of the People; 3.5 Democracy of the Soviets; 3.6 Perestroika: More Democracy, More Socialism; 3.7 Crippled Democracy; 3.8 Sovereign Democracy; 3.9 Some Tentative Conclusions; 4 Color Revolutions and Russia; 4.1 Introduction; 4.2 Were There Any Revolutions?; 4.3 Causes of the Revolutions; 4.4 Revolutionary Results; 4.5 Following Nicholas I; 4.6 Why Not Russia or When Russia?; 4.7 Conclusions; Part II Democracy in a Russian Mirror

5 Judging Democracy as Form of Government for Given Territories: Utopia or Apologetics?5.1 Democratic Authority as Repudiation of Self-Authorization; 5.2 Agenda; 5.3 Method; 5.4 Elections; 5.5 Russian Particularities and Universal Dilemmas; 6 Democracy: Ancient and Modern, Good and Bad; 6.1 Introduction; 6.2 Athens; 6.3 The Thomist Conceptual Revolution; 6.4 What Is Good and What Is Bad about Modern Democracy (Elections); 6.5 Lessons from Russia; 7 The Role of Elections in Democracy; 7.1 Why Are Elections Important?; 7.1.1 Not Limited to Competition ; 7.1.2 Why Elections?

7.1.3 How Much Competition?7.2 Functions of Competitive Elections; 7.2.1 Instituting and Consolidating Democracy; 7.2.2 Legitimizing Winners and Losers; 7.2.3 Shaping Competition and Political Regime; 7.2.4 Shaping the Style of Politics; 7.3 Platforms or Personalities? What Is Being Voted For?; 7.4 Free and Fair: How to Smell a Rat; 7.5 Conclusions; 8 Elections and the Challenge of More Democracy; 8.1 A Defense of Electoral Democracy; 8.2 Fears about Democratic Elections: The Russian Experience; 8.3 Shortcomings of Electoral Democracies; 8.3.1 Asymmetries of Information

8.3.2 The Predictability of Incumbents8.3.3 Conflict over Divided Power; 8.3.4 Bending the Rules of Competition; 8.3.5 The Usurpation of the Voice of the People; 8.4 Are Democracies a Threat?; 8.4.1 Are Elected Governments Less Able to Promote Economic Growth?; 8.4.2 Are Elected Governments Less Able to Promote Socioeconomic Equality?; 8.5 Conclusion; 9 Democracy between Elections; 9.1 Introduction; 9.2 ""Loyal'' Opposition; 9.3 Interest Groups; 9.4 Civil Society; 10 General Settings, Regional and National Factors, and the Concept of Non-Western Democracy; 10.1 Introduction

10.2 Applied Political Analysis in the East and the West: General Parameters and Specific Factors

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 05 Oct 2015).

ISBN:

1-316-25542-5

1-316-23461-4

1-316-23650-1

1-316-25352-X

1-107-67080-2

1-316-24974-3

1-316-25163-2

1-107-28207-1

1-316-24784-8