The Global Commonwealth of Citizens: Toward Cosmopolitan Democracy

Daniele Archibugi

Princeton University Press, Sep 28, 2008 - Law - 298 pages

The Global Commonwealth of Citizens critically examines the prospects for cosmopolitan democracy as a viable and humane response to the challenges of globalization. Arising after the collapse of the Soviet Union and the decisive affirmation of Western-style democracy, cosmopolitan democracy envisions a world politics in which democratic participation by citizens is not constrained by national borders, and where democracy spreads through dialogue and incentives, not coercion and war. This is an incisive and thought-provoking book by one of the world's leading proponents of cosmopolitan democracy.


Daniele Archibugi looks at all aspects of cosmopolitan democracy in theory and practice. Is democracy beyond nation-states feasible? Is it possible to inform global governance with democratic norms and values, and if so, how? Archibugi carefully answers questions like these and forcefully responds to skeptics and critics. He argues that democracy can be extended to the global political arena by strengthening and reforming existing international organizations and creating new ones, and he calls for dramatic changes in the foreign policies of nations to make them compatible with global public interests. Archibugi advocates giving voice to new global players such as social movements, cultural communities, and minorities. He proposes building institutional channels across borders to address common problems, and encourages democratic governance at the local, national, regional, and global levels.



The Global Commonwealth of Citizens is an accessible introduction to the subject that will be of interest to students and scholars in political science, international relations, international law, and human rights.

Contents

• A Queen for the World?: 1
• The Conception of Democracy: 17
• Democracy and the Global System: 53
• The Architecture of Cosmopolitan Democracy: 85
• Critical Debate on Cosmopolitan Democracy: 123
• The Central Importance of the United Nations: 153
• Cosmopolitanism and Humanitarian Intervention: 184
• Can Democracy Be Exported?: 206
• A Cosmopolitan Perspective on the SelfDetermination of Peoples: 226
• Is a Multilingual Democracy Possible?: 249
• The Prospects for Cosmopolitan Democracy: 274
• Index: 289

About the author

Daniele Archibugi is professor of innovation, governance, and public policy at the University of London, Birkbeck College, and a research director at the Italian National Research Council in Rome. His books include Debating Cosmopolitics and The Globalizing Learning Economy.

Bibliographic information

• Title: The Global Commonwealth of Citizens: Toward Cosmopolitan Democracy
• Author: Daniele Archibugi
• Publisher: Princeton University Press, 2008
• ISBN: 0691134901, 9780691134901
• Length: 298 pages
• Subjects: Law / International; Political Science / Globalization; Political Science / Intergovernmental Organizations; Political Science / International Relations / General; Political Science / Political Freedom; Political Science / Political Ideologies / Democracy