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 Liberalism against Populism A Confrontation between the Theory of Democracy and the Theory of Social Choice
William H. Riker
The discoveries of social choice theory have
undermined the simple and unrealistic nineteenth-century notions of democracy,
especially the expectation that electoral institutions smoothly translate
popular will directly into public policy. One response to these discoveries is
to reject democracy out of hand. Another, which is the program of this book, is
to save democracy by formulating more realistic expectations. Hence, this book
first summarizes social choice theory in order to explain the full force of its
critique. Then it explains, in terms of social choice theory, how politics and
public issues change and develop. Finally, it reconciles democratic ideals with
this new understanding of politics. $28.95 list, 311 pages 10-digit ISBN: 0-88133-367-0 13-digit ISBN: 978-0-88133-367-1 © 1982 “. . . a work of consequence . . . it will endure because it is almost certain to generate a significant debate about issues that go to the heart of both nomenclature and positive theorizing about politics.” —American Political Science Review
“. . . a persuasive theory of political change that one rarely encounters in the study of politics.” —Journal of Economic Literature
Table of Contents
1. The Connection Between the Theory of
Social Choice and the Theory of Democracy |