Democratizing Global Politics

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Democratizing Global Politics
Discourse Norms, International Regimes, and Political Community

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Rodger A. Payne - Author
Nayef H. Samhat - Author

SUNY series in Global Politics

Price: $45.00
Hardcover - 194 pages

Release Date: March 2004

ISBN10: 0-7914-5927-6
ISBN13: 978-0-7914-5927-0

Summary

Argues that international institutions are becoming increasingly democratized.

Historically, international institutions have been secretive and not particularly democratic. They have typically excluded almost all interested parties except the representatives of the most powerful nations. Because of this "deficit of democracy" international organizations and regimes have found themselves the target of protest movements and lobbying campaigns. Democratizing Global Politics finds that, in response to this mounting legitimacy crisis, international organizations and regimes are beginning to embrace new norms of participation and transparency, opening the decision-making process to additional political and social actors and creating opportunities for meaningful external scrutiny. Two case studies examine the construction of such "discourse norms" in the Global Environmental Facility and the World Trade Organization. The authors conclude that these normative changes not only legitimize international institutions—they also promote the development of political community on a global scale.

“…the authors are offering a clear articulation and application of Habermas’s theories of communicative action and discourse ethics to world politics … they are not alone in suggesting the potential salience of Habermas for theories of an emergent political order, but they may be among the most developed in their analysis.” — Perspectives on Politics

"The book's central theme of political community is developed nicely in theoretical terms, and the cases explored begin to suggest some of its dimensions in practice. The authors avoid excessive jargon, even while writing in a field loaded with it. This is an enjoyable read." — Paul Nelson, University of Pittsburgh

Rodger A. Payne is Associate Professor of Political Science at the University of Louisville. Nayef H. Samhat is National Endowment for the Humanities Associate Professor of Government and International Studies at Centre College.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments

Introduction

1. Critical Theory, Habermas, and International Relations

2. International Regimes and Political Community

3. Participation and Transparency Norms

4. The Democratization of the Global Environment Facility

5. The Democratization of the World Trade Organization

6. Conclusions

Notes

Bibliography

List of Books in Series

Index

Related Subjects

International Relations
Political Theory
Sociology

42027/(MR/MH/MC)