The State of Democratic Theory : a reply to James Fishkin

Author: IAN SHAPIRO¹

Source: Critical Review of International Social and Political Philosophy, Volume 8, Number 1, March 2005 , pp. 79-83(5)

Publisher: Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group

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Abstract:

I respond to Fishkin's critique of my book The State of Democratic Theory (Princeton University Press 2003). I reiterate my defense of a competitive model of democracy geared to reducing domination, rather than Fishkin's deliberative model that deploys structured discussion to enlighten mass preferences. In light of the literatures on framing effects and the value of mutually independent judgments, I question whether the procedures Fishkin recommends would produce outcomes that are better informed rather than differently informed. Recognizing that deliberation might sometimes be helpful in reducing domination, I note that sometimes it will not, and I fault Fishkin for his indiscriminate embrace of exceedingly costly deliberative mechanisms that promise dubious benefits - notably his and Bruce Ackerman's 'Deliberation Day'.

Keywords: Deliberation; aggregation; democracy; Fishkin

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1080/1369823042000335867

Affiliations: 1: Yale Center for International and Area Studies New Haven CT USA