Democracy and Northern Ireland examines the influence of liberal theories of democracy on recent developments in the Northern Irish peace process. In so doing it analyzes the applicability of theories such as political liberalism, multiculturalism and deliberative democracy to deeply divided societies. Little contends that these models need to build upon recent critiques provided by feminists and civil society theorists in the construction of a more radical interpretation of democracy that can provide a framework for democratic politics in Northern Ireland.
Autorentext
ADRIAN LITTLE is Senior Lecturer in Politics at Goldsmith's College, University of London. His previous publications include The Political Thought of André Gorz, Post-Industrial Socialism: Towards a New Politics of Welfare and The Politics of Community: Theory and Practice.
Zusammenfassung
Northern Ireland has witnessed considerable change in the last ten years, most notably with the signing of the Belfast Agreement in 1998. Strangely, political theorists have contributed little to the ensuing debates on these developments. Democracy and Northern Ireland examines recent events in Northern Irish politics from the standpoint of democratic theory. It analyzes the dominant interpretations of democracy such as political liberalism, multi-culturalism, and deliberative democracy, and finds them unsatisfactory in dealing with the complexities of Northern Irish Politics. Adrian Little contends that, despite some limitations, civil society theory and feminism offer more pertinent understandings of democracy. Building on these approaches, Little suggests that we need to develop a more radical democratic position which recognizes the nature of antagonism in Northern Ireland and engenders a 'conflictual consensus'.
Inhalt
Introduction Explaining the Belfast Agreement Political Liberalism Multiculturalism and the Politics of Difference Deliberative Democracy and Democratic Communication Social Capital, Trust and Civil Society Feminism and the Politics of Difference Radical Democracy Conclusion