As the U.S. strives to establish democracy in Iraq and contemplates its own democratic system in the wake of a series of controversial presidential elections, David Beetham offers new insights into democracy. He looks at real examples such as the role of the citizen and how large corporations affect democracy as well as contemplating the future of democracy in the developed and developing worlds.

One Introduction: What is Democracy? Two Democratic Ideas at Work in Practice Citizen rights Institutions of representative and accountable government The associational life of civil society Three Sources of Disillusion in the 'Old' Democracies Decline in government autonomy Decline in government capacity Declining credibility Four Success and Setback in the New and Emergent Democracies Legacies of transition Problems of consolidating and deepening democracy State Nation Religion Economy Five Globalising Democracy Democracy promotion Democratising global institutions Democracy and the European Union Six Reviving Democracy: New Forms of Participation Participation in government Co-decision in devolved government Deliberative opinion polls and citizens' juries Referenda and citizens' initiatives Digital democracy Seven Conclusion: Getting Active Glossary of key terms List of democracy and human rights organisations and websites