On Democracy

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The last half of the 20th century has been an era of democratic triumph. The main anti-democratic regimes - communist, fascist, Nazi - have disappeared, and new democracies are emerging vigorously or tentatively throughout the world. In this book, one of the most prominent political theorists of our time provides a primer on democracy that clarifies what it is, why it is valuable, how it works, and what challenges it confronts in the future.

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95 reviews All reviews
April 17,2025
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Em primeiro lugar, essa não é uma obra "acadêmica". Dahl escreveu essa obra com o objetivo de ser um manual introdutório aos elementos, instituições e importância da democracia. De início, Dahl apresenta onde surgiu e se desenvolveu a democracia.
Já na parte seguinte, o autor apresenta e discute os critérios para identificar uma democracia, como também as vantagens desse regime. Dahl encontra no valor da igualdade intrínseca o fundamento da democracia.
Em seguida, já na parte III, Dahl apresenta as instituições políticas necessárias para uma democracia em larga escala. Nesse ponto, o autor discute seu conceito de poliarquia. E argumenta que devido ao tamanho das nações modernas, só o regime representativo é possível para uma democracia. Ainda discute as variações nas constituições democráticas e sua importância, como também os modelos de sistemas eleitorais e de representação partidária.
Na última parte, o autor trata das condições essenciais e favoráveis à democracia e debate o que favorece e prejudica esse regime. O livro conta com uma lista de livros importantes sobre o regime democrático. É um bom "manual" introdutório, sem maiores pretensões acadêmicas.
April 17,2025
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A truly stultifying primer, devoid of evidence or illustration, and giving no sense of a field that might stretch beyond these assertions.
April 17,2025
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Written by the preeminent democratic theorist of our time, this book explains the nature, value, and mechanics of democracy. In a new introduction to this Veritas edition, Ian Shapiro considers how Dahl would respond to the ongoing challenges democracy faces in the modern world.


An apt book considering the democratic processes we’re watching unfurl right now, if you have been captured by the news and politics is your thing you interest you will fall headfirst into this book but if you’re looking for something light, this might not be right for you. A book in moments that can feel quite heavy, Dahl here gives you the reader on Democracy and walks you through the history of democracy and how it is put to use in the USA and globally.

A thorough walk through the differences between the ideal democracy and the reality of it, On Democracy is a book for those probably into or studying the area to get into as he explores the who, what, why of the subject and really explores interpretation of what we mean by the subject. For me it was an easy read with chapters that I got through pretty quickly as the writing isn’t terribly complicated and Dahl does a good job of making it interesting.

A great read if Politics is your interest, it makes it clear just what we need from democracy and leaves you wondering if we really have perfected it yet.

(I received an ARC from Netgalley for honest review).
April 17,2025
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“[…] se si viene esclusi dal governo dello stato, ci sono buone probabilità che i propri interessi non saranno considerati con la stessa attenzione degli interessi di coloro che hanno voce in capitolo. Se non hai voce, chi prenderà la parola per te? […]}
April 17,2025
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Like all history books we're forced to read, this was very dry, boring, and fact heavy. Don't tell my teacher but I really only read about 4 chapters before giving up.
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