Good State: On the Principles of Democracy

The foundations of our democracies are flawed and vulnerable to corrosion. A. C. Grayling argues for a clear, consistent, principled, and written constitution with reforms such as addressing the imbalance of power between government and Parliament, imposing fixed terms for MPs, introducing proportional representation, and lowering the voting age to 16. This is necessary to ensure the intentions of a constitution cannot be subverted or ignored. Democracies around the world are showing signs of decay, and the issue of what makes a good state is essential.

\n Format: Paperback / softback
\n Length: 256 pages
\n Publication date: 02 September 2021
\n Publisher: Oneworld Publications
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The foundations of our democracies are inherently flawed and vulnerable to corrosion from within. This poses a significant challenge to our societies. In his book, "The Foundations of Modern Democracy," A.C. Grayling argues for a clear, consistent, principled, and written constitution as a remedy to address these flaws. Grayling proposes a range of reforms, including addressing the imbalance of power between government and Parliament, imposing fixed terms for MPs, introducing proportional representation, and lowering the voting age to 16 (the age at which individuals can marry, gamble, join the army, and pay taxes if they work). These reforms are aimed at ensuring that the intentions of a written constitution cannot be subverted or ignored.

As democracies around the world face decay, the issue of what makes a good state, one that is truly democratic in the fullest sense of the word, becomes increasingly important. One glaring example of the flaws in our democracies is the "first past the post" electoral system. In this system, a voter supporting a losing candidate is unrepresented, and their voice is unequal to that of a voter supporting a winning candidate, who frequently does not gain a majority of the votes cast. This inequality undermines the fundamental principle of democracy, which states that no voice should be louder than any other.

There are numerous other problems with our democracies, all of which indicate the need for democratic reform. These problems include the concentration of power in the hands of a few, the lack of transparency and accountability in government, and the erosion of civil liberties and human rights. To address these issues, Grayling advocates for a range of measures, including greater political participation, the promotion of civil society, the protection of individual rights, and the establishment of independent institutions to oversee government.

In conclusion, the foundations of our democracies are flawed and vulnerable to corrosion from within. A.C. Grayling's book "The Foundations of Modern Democracy" offers a compelling argument for a clear, consistent, principled, and written constitution as a remedy to address these flaws. By implementing the proposed reforms, we can strive to create democracies that are more transparent, accountable, and inclusive, and that uphold the fundamental principles of democracy.

\n Weight: 226g\n
Dimension: 128 x 198 x 24 (mm)\n
ISBN-13: 9781786079329\n \n