Rational Choice and Democratic Deliberation

Author(s):  
Guido Pincione ◽  
Fernando R. Teson
1991 ◽  
Vol 53 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-319 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark P. Petracca

In just three decades rational choice theory has emerged as one of the most active, influential, and ambitious subfields in the discipline of political science. Rational choice theory contends that political behavior is best explained through the application of its supposedly “value-neutral” assumptions which posit man as a self-interested, purposeful, maximizing being. Through the logic of methodological individualism, assumptions about human nature are treated as empirical discoveries. My central argument is that by assuming that self-interest is an empirically established component of human nature, rational choice theory supports and perpetuates a political life which is antithetical to important tenets of normative democratic theory. Rational choice theory offers an incoherent account of democratic citizenship and produces a political system which shows a constant biased against political change and pursuit of the public interest. This article concludes by discussing the merits of democratic deliberation for achieving these transformative ends.


OUGHTOPIA ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 35 (2) ◽  
pp. 247-282
Author(s):  
In-Kyun Kim ◽  
Myeong-Geon Koh

In automated control systems for technical processes, the conversion of a continuous signal into a digital code and vice versa from a digital code to a continuous (analog) value is widely used. For direct type converters often used the term ADC, the reverse - DAC. The characteristics of the converters often dramatically affect the parameters of the entire automated system. The importance of the correct choice of ADCs and DACs has especially increased recently in connection with the mass introduction of microcontrollers MC. Indeed, in addition to the ADC and DAC, it is necessary to place the processor core in the microcontroller's crystal, I/O interfaces and many other elements necessary for the functioning of the MC. The use of information converters in the construction industry imposes additional requirements on converters: for example, in building monitoring systems, precision ADCs with extremely high accuracy are often required (while performance may be low), in other applications it is necessary to provide the necessary parameters at a high level of industrial interference, etc. This article explores issues related to the rational choice of ADCs and DACs, taking into account current trends in the IT field and the specifics of work in the construction industry. Sigma-Delta converters are noted as the most promising models of direct type converters.


Author(s):  
Kealeboga J Maphunye

This article examines South Africa's 20-year democracy by contextualising the roles of the 'small' political parties that contested South Africa's 2014 elections. Through the  prism  of South  Africa's  Constitution,  electoral legislation  and the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, it examines these parties' roles in South Africa's democratisation; their influence,  if any, in parliament, and whether they play any role in South Africa's continental or international engagements. Based on a review of the extant literature, official documents,  legislation, media, secondary research, reports and the results of South Africa's elections, the article relies on game theory, rational choice theory and theories of democracy and democratic consolidation to examine 'small' political parties' roles in the country's political and legal systems. It concludes that the roles of 'small' parties in governance and democracy deserve greater recognition than is currently the case, but acknowledges the extreme difficulty experienced by the 'small'  parties in playing a significant role in democratic consolidation, given their formidable opponent in a one-party dominant system.


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