Rationality, Democracy, and Justice: The Legacy of Jon Elster

Cambridge University Press, 2/5/2015
EAN 9781107065239, ISBN10: 1107065232

Hardcover, 304 pages, 22.8 x 15.2 x 2.1 cm
Language: English

This volume advances the research agenda of one of the most remarkable political thinkers of our time: Jon Elster. With an impressive list of contributors, it features studies in five topics in political and social theory: rationality and collective action, political and social norms, democracy and constitution making, transitional justice, and the explanation of social behavior. Additionally, this volume includes chapters on the development of Elster's thinking over the past decades. Like Elster's own writings, the essays in this collection are problem-driven, non-ideal inquiries of practical relevance. This volume closes with lucid comments by Jon Elster.

Part I. Jon Elster's Social and Political Thought
1. The road toward disillusion
explanations, predictions, and prescriptions in the work of Jon Elster Roberto Gargarella and Félix Ovejero
Part II. Rationality and Collective Action
2. Why it's rational to vote Gerry Mackie
3. How countries can negotiate to allocate greenhouse-gas emissions
a simple proposal John E. Roemer
4. On irreversible harm Cass R. Sunstein
Part III. Political and Social Norms
5. Flexible and rigid constitutions
post-Kelsenian typology of constitutional systems Pasquale Pasquino
6. What makes people tip Diego Gambetta
7. A social-psychological theory for female suicide bombers Julia Maskivker
Part IV. Democracy and Constitution Making
8. Decoding the genesis of political order
Jon Elster on precommitment and constitutional processes in Eastern Europe Claus Offe
9. Enfranchisement and constitution making Claudio López-Guerra
Part V. Transitional Justice
10. Compensation and land restitution in transitions from war to peace Pablo Kalmanovitz
Part VI. The Social Sciences
11. Jon Elster and the social sciences Daniel Little
Part VII. Discussion
12. Comments Jon Elster.