Democracy Third Edition

In praise of previous editions:

"...brilliant introduction." - New Statesman and Society

"From start to finish, Arblaster''s book is stimulating and highly readable." - Times Higher Educational Supplement

"...an ideal first book to place in the hands of a student embarking on the study of democracy." - Journal of Commonwealth and Comparative Politics

• What is the meaning of democracy?
• Why has democracy provoked hostility in the past? Has the hostility entirely vanished?
• * How democratic are contemporary Western societies in reality and how might they be made more democratic?

The revised and updated edition of this widely acclaimed survey takes account of the very different global context in which any discussion of democracy must now take place, including the mighty power of the multinationals vis-a-vis elected governments, the resurgence of the idea of an Islamic alternative to the Western democratic ideal, and the suggestion tha