Democracy and its critics / Robert A. Dahl.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 375-384).

Includes index.

Part one: The sources of modern democracy. The first transformation: to the democratic city-state -- Toward the second transformation: republicanism, representation, and the logic of equality -- -- Part two: Adversarial critics. Anarchism -- Guardianship -- A critique of guardianship -- -- Part three: A theory of the democratic process. Justifications: the idea of equal intrinsic worth -- Personal autonomy -- A theory of the democratic process -- The problem of inclusion -- -- Part four: Problems in the democratic process. Majority rule and the democratic process -- Is there a better alternative? -- Process and substance -- Process versus process -- When is a people entitled to the democratic process? -- -- Part five: The limits and possibilities of democracy. The second democratic transformation: from the city-state to the nation-state -- Democracy, polyarchy, and participation -- How polyarchy developed in some countries and not others -- Why polyarchy developed in some countries and not others -- Is minority domination inevitable? -- Pluralism, polyarchy, and the common good -- The common good as process and substance -- -- Part six: Toward a third transformation. Democracy in tomorrow's world -- Sketches for an advanced democratic country.