'McLean's book is intelligent, well written and well informed.' <i>THES</i>
In this accessible new book, Iain McLean explores the impact of information technology on democracy. Combining democratic theory, social choice theory and description of new technology at work in Europe and the USA, McLean explores democracy as it is and as it could be. The author begins in ancient Athens and moves through Pliny, Rousseau, Madison and J S Mill to modern representatives and direct democracy. Introducing the theory of social choice, he argues that democracy is about procedures, not results, and sets out some criteria for fair aggregation of individuals' preferences to society's. Exploring the impact of new technology on these procedures, McLean shows how it can save time, and increase accuracy and accessibility, but also how it can lead to manipulation and come up against Arrow's, Gibbards' and McKelvey's impossibility theorems. In conclusion, McLean asks whether new technology widens or narrows our democratic horizons, and points to the technical and logical boundaries of democracy. Democracy and New Technology will be of great interest to students and researchers in politics, sociology, and media and communications studies. It is one of very few books to explain social choice theory in totally non-technical language and to explore what it means for democracy.
Les mer
Combining democratic theory, social choice theory and a description of new technology at work, this work explores the impact of information technology on democracy, asks whether democratic possibilities are improved by it, and discusses the technical and logical boundaries of democracy.
Les mer
Preface. Introduction. 1. What is Democracy? Some Traditional Answers. 2. Are Modern Western Societies Democratic?. 3. New Technology and Democracy. 4. What New Technology can do for Direct Democracy. 5. What New Technology can do for Representative Democracy. 6. Conclusions. Appendix. Glossary of Technical Terms. Notes.
Les mer
In this accessible new book, Iain McLean explores the impact of information technology on democracy. Combining democratic theory, social choice theory and description of new technology at work in Europe and the USA, McLean explores democracy as it is and as it could be. The author begins in ancient Athens and moves through Pliny, Rousseau, Madison and J S Mill to modern representatives and direct democracy. Introducing the theory of social choice, he argues that democracy is about procedures, not results, and sets out some criteria for fair aggregation of individuals' preferences to society's. Exploring the impact of new technology on these procedures, McLean shows how it can save time, and increase accuracy and accessibility, but also how it can lead to manipulation and come up against Arrow's, Gibbards' and McKelvey's impossibility theorems. In conclusion, McLean asks whether new technology widens or narrows our democratic horizons, and points to the technical and logical boundaries of democracy. Democracy and New Technology will be of great interest to students and researchers in politics, sociology, and media and communications studies. It is one of very few books to explain social choice theory in totally non-technical language and to explore what it means for democracy.
Les mer
'McLean's book is intelligent, well written and well informed.' THES
Produktdetaljer
ISBN
9780745604473
Publisert
1989-09-14
Utgiver
Vendor
Polity Press
Vekt
454 gr
Høyde
238 mm
Bredde
160 mm
Dybde
21 mm
Aldersnivå
UU, P, UP, 05, 06
Språk
Product language
Engelsk
Format
Product format
Innbundet
Antall sider
220
Forfatter