Beyond Instrumentalised Politics

Political thinking tends to outline reforms to existing political institutions. In contrast, Beyond Instrumentalised Politics argues for the need for systemic transformation. It articulates the evaluative principles for good governance, and employs these principles to argue for a new political system. Because persons are non-instrumentally valuable, good governance requires that all people are respected equally, and this necessitates a participatory democracy. The book investigates how such a democracy might function through consensus-based decision-making and argues for a redefinition of consensus. It characterises the local and national institutions required for public governance thus conceived. This includes the creation of various types of spaces for deep dialogue and mutual inquiry. This book demonstrates how this innovative vision would transform our current conceptions of governance.

• Broadens and transforms current conceptions of governance and democracy
• Meets the needs of both researchers and professionals advancing innovative practices of governance
• Provides conceptual support for emergent participatory democracy movements

Scherto Gill, University of Wales Trinity Saint David, Lampeter, UK.

Garrett Thomson, College of Wooster, Ohio, USA.