Scholars have often claimed that democracies, whatever their virtues, are functionally short-sighted. The evidence is clear: we have been unable to manage many long-term issues including climate change, nuclear waste disposal, natural disaster preparedness, infrastructure maintenance, and budget deficits. If voters and influential actors, such as interest groups and corporations, have dominant short-term interests, it may be difficult for elected politicians to act in the long-term interests of society, even if they think that it would be the right thing to do. To solve long-term problems, do we need political systems that are less democratic, or even authoritarian? This idea, which Michael K. MacKenzie calls the "democratic myopia thesis," is a sort of conventional wisdom; it is an idea that scholars and pundits take for granted as a truth about democracy without subjecting it to adequate critical scrutiny. In Future Publics, MacKenzie challenges this conventional wisdom and articulates a deliberative, democratic theory of future-regarding collective action. Specifically, MacKenzie argues that each part of the democratic myopia problem can be addressed through democratic--rather than authoritarian--means. At a more fundamental level, once we recognize that democratic practices are world-making activities that empower us to make our shared worlds together, they should also be understood as future-making activities. Despite the short-term dynamics associated with electoral democracy, MacKenzie asserts that we need more inclusive and deliberative democracies if we are going to make shared futures that will work for us all.

About the Author
Michael K. MacKenzie is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Political Science at the University of Pittsburgh.

Reviews
Can democracies meet the looming problems of the 21st century? There is a growing suspicion that the answer is no or not well. Michael MacKenzie challenges this view and offers a powerful counterpunch to the doomsaying that has dominated democratic crisis literature. Drawing on and contributing to the latest deliberative democracy research, MacKenzie offers a compelling picture of the democratic institutions through which citizens can take hold of their fate and plan for the future. Inclusive deliberative institutions can break away from the short sightedness imposed by election cycles and develop sensible future oriented policies. Realistic, empirically grounded, and most importantly, constructive, Future Publics is a wonderful and original contribution to contemporary democratic theory. * Simone Chambers, Professor of Political Science, University of California, Irvine *
A ground-breaking book. MacKenzie combines a rigorous analysis of the different elements of democratic myopia with a systematic account of the reasons why we can expect deliberation to be future regarding and questions of institutional design. The literature on democracy and future generations is in its infancy and Future Publics will be a highly influential reference point as work in this area matures. * Graham Smith, Professor of Politics, University of Westminster *
Michael MacKenzie shows effectively how inclusive deliberation can render political systems more capable of giving due weight to the long term and proceeds in compelling fashion to supply institutional correctives lenses for the myopia that currently plagues democratic systems. Future Publics should be recognized as the definitive treatment of this crucial topic in democratic theory and practice. * John Dryzek, John Dryzek, Centenary Professor, Centre for Deliberative Democracy and Global Governance, University of Canberra *



Book Information
ISBN 9780197557150
Author Michael K. MacKenzie
Format Hardback
Page Count 240
Imprint Oxford University Press Inc
Publisher Oxford University Press Inc
Weight(grams) 522g
Dimensions(mm) 157mm * 239mm * 23mm