An Introduction: Theoretical Perspectives and Empirical Research on Deliberative Democracy

Since the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, political scientists have once again turned their attention to a critical examination of the state of democratic governance in their home countries. The trends of the last half century are troubling. In most Western democracies, citizen’s trust and interest in politicians and political institutions have declined. People increasingly see politics as a remote arena populated by powers beyond their control pursuing interests that do not reflect the needs of the public at large. Political cynicism is widespread and it is often accompanied by a withdrawal from politics. Where voting is not a legal requirement, rates of participation in elections have also declined. For both citizens and political scientists, this has raised concerns about the well-being and legitimacy of democratic governance in those countries where it is most firmly established (e.g. Pharr et al., 2000; Pharr and Putnam, 2000).