Symposium: James S. Fishkin, Democracy When the People Are Thinking

Abstract

While acknowledging the monumental and important contribution James Fishkin has made to deliberative democracy theory, I argue that his very pessimistic view of citizen competency outside of Deliberative Polls limits his ability to develop a full theory of democracy. I also suggest that he is hampered by a narrow focus on the Deliberative Poll as the primary institution of democratic reform.