Democracy's second act : why politics needs the public / Peter MacLeod and Richard Johnson.
| Author/creator | MacLeod, Peter author. |
| Other author | Johnson, Richard (Former journalist), author. |
| Format | Book |
| Publication | Toronto ; Buffalo ; London : Aevo UTP, an imprint of University of Toronto Press, [2026] |
| Copyright Date | ©2026 |
| Description | xix, 290 pages ; 24 cm |
| Subjects |
| Contents | Preface -- Introduction: So much for our lofty ideals -- The war on the public -- The end of act 1 -- A tempest and a teacup -- The new representatives -- Public opinion and its problems -- Learning in public -- Civic challenges -- Democracy by association -- In the trenches -- Democracy's second act -- Epilogue: Loftier ideals. |
| Abstract | "Democracy isn't broken -- it's stuck. Around the world, people are growing angry and polarized -- not because they've stopped caring, but because democracy has stopped evolving. The result isn't apathy -- it is a rising sense of political futility. In Democracy's Second Act, Peter MacLeod and Richard Johnson argue that the First Act of democracy -- anchored in voting rights and representative government -- achieved extraordinary gains. Free elections, near-universal suffrage, and the peaceful transfer of power reshaped societies and expanded human freedom. But these achievements represent the promise of democracy, not its completion. Their book offers a hopeful, clear-eyed vision for what comes next. Drawing on ground-breaking citizens' assemblies in Ireland, Canada and France--as well as democratic innovations from more than a dozen countries -- MacLeod and Johnson show how we can build on the legacy of the First Act by creating new institutions that tap into the talents, judgment, and capabilities of ordinary people. They make the case that the public isn't a risk to be managed, but a powerful resource ready to be harnessed and that the future depends on giving citizens real responsibility, not just a periodic vote. Smart, story-driven, and deeply grounded in political theory and practice, Democracy's Second Act is for change-makers ready to move beyond cynicism and rebuild democracy for a new era." -- Provided by publisher. |
| Bibliography note | Includes bibliographical references and index. |
| Other forms | Issued also in electronic format. |
| Issued in other form | Online version: MacLeod, Peter (Founder of MASS LBP) Democracy's second act. Toronto ; Buffalo ; London : Aevo UTP, an imprint of University of Toronto Press, 2026 1487517149 9781487517144 |
| Issued in other form | ebook version : 9781487517151 |
| ISBN | 9781487517137 |
| ISBN | 1487517130 (hardcover) |
| ISBN | ebook |
| ISBN | ebook |
Availability
| Library | Location | Call Number | Status | Item Actions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Joyner | Order on Demand Title | Order On Demand | ✔ Available | Click to order this title |