We decide! : theories and cases in participatory democracy / Michael Menser.

Enhanced descriptions from Syndetics:

Participatory democracy calls for the creation and proliferation of practices and institutions that enable individuals and groups to better determine the conditions in which they act and relate to others. Michael Menser's timely book We Decide! is arguably the most comprehensive treatment of participatory democracy. He explains the three waves of participatory democracy theory to show that this movement is attentive to the mechanics of contemporary political practices. Menser also outlines "maximal democracy," his own view of participatory democracy that expands people's abilities to shape their own lives, reduce inequality, and promote solidarity.

We Decide! draws on liberal, feminist, anarchist, and environmental justice philosophies as well as in-depth case studies of Spanish factory workers, Japanese housewives, and Brazilian socialists to show that participatory democracy actually works. Menser concludes his study by presenting a reconstructed version of the state that is shaped not by corporations but by inclusive communities driven by municipal workers, elected officials, and ordinary citizens working together. In this era of Bernie Sanders and Donald Trump, the participatory democracy proposed in We Decide! is more significant than ever.

Reviews provided by Syndetics

CHOICE Review

Menser (Brooklyn College) discusses participatory democracy on theoretical and practical levels. The author tries to interconnect fragmented pieces of the phenomenon, such as worker co-ops, consumer co-ops, community gardens, and community land trusts, into a systematic movement. The book seeks to understand the strengths and weaknesses of each of these participatory models. Their common goal is to upgrade democracy, to help individuals enhance their capacities and obtain benefits through cooperation that will reduce the inequalities among people. Unlike other books on the same topic that focus on normative views such as happiness, rights, and freedoms, Menser starts from power and equality. He does not offer a new best social model, despite his preferences for participatory democracy. He acknowledges that it may not be the best solution in some situations, e.g., the alleviation of poverty. Nevertheless, he tries to establish the framework in which these alternative arrangements show better results than other existing models. It is good to have these in mind for situations in which sudden economic, environmental, and social upheavals make traditional mechanisms obsolete. Summing Up: Recommended. Upper-division undergraduates through faculty. --Simeon Mitropolitski, University of Ottawa