Rethinking Democracy and Governance

Democracy can be understood as a concept as well as a system of government associated with certain values, including transparency, accountability, the protection of rights, and non-oppressive government. This cutting edge new book explores the current contours of democracy and asks important questions such as: Does contemporary democracy mean the same thing that it did centuries ago? Are the longstanding assumptions about democracy and good governance sustainable in the face of digital transformation, paradigm shifts, and the liberalization of knowledge? Is democracy still applicable in the way that it has been traditionally envisioned? Gathering together insights from academics and practitioners with expertise on democracy and governance in the Caribbean context, this book is designed to spark a conversation about the ways in which appetites for democracy may be shifting in the Caribbean and beyond, exploring the conditions that brings these shifts to bear.

Section one focuses on conceptual pieces that investigate democracy and good governance, their definition, and comparative analysis of how the conceptualization of democracy can shape outcomes in different governmental contexts. Section two explores the ways in which events, trends, and technologies have impacted democratic or undemocratic values and attitudes. Section three examines shifts in democratic inclination in the 21st century. Together the chapters represent an overdue study of the foundational governmental system of our time in a region that has historically been overlooked. Rethinking Democracy and Governance: Perspectives from the Caribbean is required reading for students of governance, public administration, and public policy.