The Next Form of Democracy

Matt Leighninger

Description

Beneath the national radar, the relationship between citizens and government is undergoing a dramatic shift. More than ever before, citizens are educated, skeptical, and capable of bringing the decision-making process to a sudden halt. Public officials and other leaders are tired of confrontation and desperate for resources. In order to address persistent challenges like education, race relations, crime prevention, land use planning, and economic development, communities have been forced to find new ways for people and public servants to work together.

The stories of civic experiments in this book can show us the realpolitik of deliberative democracy, and illustrate how the evolution of democracy is already reshaping politics.

Sujets

• Political Advocacy
• Political Process
• Human Rights
• Political Science

Informations

• Publié par: Vanderbilt University Press
• Date de parution: 11 décembre 2006
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9780826592194
• Langue: English
• Poids de l'ouvrage: 1 Mo

Extrait

THE NEXT FORM OF DEMOCRACY How Expert Rule Is Giving Way to Shared Governance . . . and Why Politics Will Never Be the Same

MATT LEIGHNINGER Foreword by U.S. Senator Bill Bradley

THE NEXT FORM OF DEMOCRACY

THE NEXT FORM OF DEMOCRACY

How Expert Rule Is Giving Way to Shared Governance . . . and Why Politics Will Never Be the Same

Matt Leîghnînger Foreword by U.S. Senator Bî Bradey

Vanderbilt University Press Nashville

© 2006 Vanderbît Unîversîty Press A rîghts reserved Fîrst edîtîon 2006

10 09 08 07 06

1 2 3 4 5

Prînted on acîd-free paper. Manufactured în the Unîted States of Amerîca Desîgned by Wendy McAnay

Lîbrary of Congress Cataogîng-în-Pubîcatîon Data

Leîghnînger, Matthew. The next form of democracy : how expert rue îs gîvîng way to shared governance-and why poîtîcs wî never be the same / Matt Leîghnînger, wîth a foreword by Bî Bradey.—1st ed. p. cm. Incudes bîbîographîca references and îndex. ISBN 0–8265–1540–1 (coth : ak. paper) ISBN 0–8265–1541-X (pbk. : ak. paper) 1. Loca government—Unîted States—Cîtîzen partîcîpatîon. 2. Poîtîca partîcîpatîon—Unîted States. 3. Democracy—Unîted States. I. Bradey, Bî, 1943- II. Tîte. JS391.L45 2006 320.80973—dc22 2006010591

For Don Lukens and Tom Donney, buîders of great înstîtutîons

Contents

Acknowledgments  ix Foreword  xiii Introduction  Things Your Mayor Never Told You:  The Recent Transformation of Local Democracy  1

Section 1—The State of Democracy  23 1 Good Citizens and Persistent Public Problems  25 2 Is Everything Up to Date in Kansas City?  Why “Citizen Involvement” May Soon Be Obsolete  44

Section 2—Appeals to Citizenship  69 3 Of Pigs and People:  Sprawl, Gentrification, and the Future of Regions  71 4 The Increasing Significance of Race in Public Life  93 5 Washington Goes to Mr. Smith:  The Changing Role of Citizens in Policy Development  117

vîîî The Next Form of Democracy

Section 3—Building Shared Governance  149 6 The Strange Career of Chuck Ridley:  Drug Abuse, Community Organizing,  and “Government by Nonprofits”  151 7 “Marrying” Schools and Communities:  Endless Love or Affair to Remember?  172 8 Sharing the Buck: Communities Rethink  Public Finances and Public Responsibilities  195

Conclusion—Things to Come  224 Notes  251 Index  281

Acknowledgments

I never întended to wrîte a book. But I found that, în the course of my work, I was beîng presented wîth some truy remarkabe storîes. I began to compîe, înterpret, and compare these narratîves, because that heped me process what I was observîng. Eventuay, I reaîzed that thîs was a one story: an account of poîtîca change în North Amerîca.  So the irst group of peope I have to acknowedge are the peope who have îved thîs story: the oca eaders who are hepîng theîr communî- tîes navîgate the transîtîon from expert rue to shared governance. Some of them are pubîc oficîas or other kînds of estabîshed eaders; others are organîzers of temporary projects. Most of them have receîved very îtte recognîtîon, even în the mîdst of theîr greatest successes.. A of them are extraordînary peope, and I have contînuay been înspîred and encour- aged by theîr efforts. I woud partîcuary îke to thank Jon Abercrombîe, Shakoor Ajuwanî, Steve Burkhoder, Fran Frazîer, Anjî Husaîn, Arnette Johnson, Sandy Robînson, Caro Scott, and Gwen Wrîght for a they have taught me over the years.  Sînce I am descrîbîng theîr experîences, some of these oca eaders are featured în the book. But there are many others who have heped me under- stand what theîr communîtîes are goîng through, încudîng: Susan Ander- son, Faye Bonneau, Bîss Bruen, Say Campbe, Wîîam Carpenter, Me- ody Ehrîch, Dan Farey, Pat Fruîht, Janet Gender, Mary Jane Hoîs, the Reverend Ernest Jones, John Landesman, Paddy Lane, Karî Lang, Bruce Maory, Rob Marchîony, Roseann Mason, Caro Munro, Sue Mutcher, Mary Patenaude, Meg Shîeds, Susan Sîngh, Ruth Sokoowskî, and Judy Whîte.  I woud never have had the chance to be înspîred by these peope îf not for the generosîty and vîsîon of the ate Pau Aîcher. As the founder of the Study Cîrces Resource Center, he ensured that hundreds of communîtîes

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