DEMOCRACY AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Book Details:

• Author: David Beetham

• Publisher: Rawat Publications

• Language: English

• Edition: 2020

• ISBN: 9788131611340

• Pages: 234

• Cover: Hardcover

• Release Date: 01-12-2020

About the Book

What is democracy, and how do we evaluate its presence in a society? This thought-provoking volume by David Beetham explores the complex, evolving relationship between democracy and human rights. Unlike conventional treatments that focus solely on electoral systems or liberal democratic institutions, this book delves into the foundational, philosophical, institutional, and societal dimensions of democracy.

Organized around key thematic questions, the book covers:

• The definition and justification of democracy

• The institutional and societal conditions necessary for democratic functioning

• The interplay between democracy and human rights, including whether social and economic rights should be integral to democratic citizenship

• The limits of liberal democracy and its alternatives

• The assessment of democratic performance through democratic audit tools and indices

• Criteria for democratic consolidation, development, and deepening

Drawing from theory, practical experiences, and global case studies, the book offers a multi-dimensional perspective on democratic governance, making it highly relevant for students of political science, human rights, governance, and international studies.

Contents

• Defining and Justifying Democracy

• Some Conditions for Democracy

• Liberal Democracy and the Limits of Democratization

• Market Economy and Democratic Polity

• Conditions for Democratic Consolidation

• Democracy and Human Rights

• Human Rights and Democracy: A Multi-faceted Relationship

• What Future for Economic and Social Rights?

• Human Rights as a Model for Cosmopolitan Democracy

• Auditing Democracy: Key Principles and Indices

• Democratic Criteria for Electoral Systems

About the Author

David Beetham is Professor of Politics and Director of the Centre of Democratization Studies at the University of Leeds. He is widely recognized for his contributions to democratic theory and human rights. His published works include Politics and Human Rights, Introducing Democracy, and Political Power and Democratic Control in Britain. As a consultant to organizations such as UNESCO, the Council of Europe, and the Inter-Parliamentary Union, Beetham brings practical insights into democratic auditing and governance frameworks. He also serves as a core consultant to the Democratic Audit of the UK.