The first two editions of "Models of Democracy" proved to be extremely popular among scholars and experts worldwide. David Held's comprehensive and multifaceted analysis offers an introduction to the main concepts of democracy from classical antiquity to the present day, as well as a critical discussion on what democracy should mean today.

The new edition has been extensively revised to include significant changes in global politics. A new chapter on deliberative democracy has been added, focusing not only on how citizen participation in the political process can be expanded but also on how this participation can be further improved.

As in the previous editions, the author's writing combines clarity and vividness with academic rigor and originality, making "Models of Democracy" a particularly attractive book for researchers and students in the field of political science. The third edition is an essential read for anyone interested in politics, political theory, and political philosophy.

Chapters included:

Part One: Classical Models
1. Classical Democracy: Athens
2. Republicanism: Liberty, Self-Government, and the Concept of the Active Citizen
3. The Development of Liberal Democracy: For and Against the State
4. Direct Democracy and the End of Politics

Part Two: Twentieth-Century Variations
5. Competitive Elitism and the Technocratic Vision
6. Pluralism, Corporate Capitalism, and the State
7. From Post-War Stability to Political Crisis: The Polarization of Political Ideals
8. Democracy After the Collapse of Soviet Communism
9. Deliberative Democracy and the Defense of the Public Sphere

Part Three: What Should Democracy Mean Today?
10. Democratic Autonomy
11. Democracy, the Nation-State, and the Global System