Book Description:
Beneath the national radar, the relationship between citizens and government is undergoing a dramatic shift. More than ever before, citizens are educated, skeptical, and capable of bringing the decision making process to a sudden halt. Public officials and other leaders are tired of confrontation and desperate for resources. In order to address persistent challenges like education, race relations, crime prevention, land use planning, and economic development, communities have been forced to find new ways for people and public servants to work together. The stories of civic experiments in this book can show us the realpolitik of deliberative democracy, and illustrate how the evolution of democracy is already reshaping politics. FROM THE FOREWORD BY U.S. SENATOR BILL BRADLEY: 'In 1995, I learned firsthand about an idea that was stirring among public officials and community organizers across America. Shortly after O.J. Simpson's acquittal, Los Angeles city officials convened 'Days of Dialogue' to give people throughout the city an opportunity to share their views on the complex and intensely personal topic of race relations. . . . 'Seeing the willingness of people to come together amid highly charged circumstances to talk about their lives, their fears, and their hopes made a deep impression on me. I was moved by the participants' civility and honesty, and I believe these discussions may have helped avert a wave of violence like the one that accompanied the 1992 Rodney King verdicts. Just as important, the dialogues gave participants a much needed chance to talk plainly about racism and racial division with people from backgrounds different from their own. The Days of Dialogue which expanded to take place nationally in the late 1990s were an early example of the sort of civic engagement Matt Leighninger describes throughout The Next Form of Democracy. . . . 'The phenomenon which is taking shape across the country in many different ways is fueled by the notion that public life is too important to be left solely to the professionals. . . . 'Leighninger brings outstanding credentials to his task of documenting the rise of democratic governance. Through his work with the Study Circles Resource Center, the National League of Cities, and many other civic organizations, Leighninger has helped hundreds of communities in 40 states launch local efforts to bring citizens to the table on many issues . . . The stories he tells are rooted in his own experience he really knows these people and has worked side by side with many of them. He has learned why civic engagement initiatives work and how they sometimes fail.' 'Matt Leighninger presents invaluable insights into one of the most important issues facing community and government leaders today: how does top down government set by policy professionals relate to grass roots groups, who understand their problems better but often lack resources to solve them?' Stephen Goldsmith, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University, and former mayor of Indianapolis 'The Next Form of Democracy is engaging and enlightening, bringing to life the (traditionally far too academically treated) subject of community engagement and citizen participation. School boards, business and citizen leaders will love this book, and be proud of the role they can play to transform a community. Not only is it a must read for those of us who care about the future of our communities it is a great read!' Anne Bryant, Executive Director, National School Boards Association 'In The Next Form of Democracy, Matthew Leighninger contributes immensely to our understanding of the true meaning and real challenges of participatory democracy. He explores the intersection of race and regional planning and development and exposes the failure to create a society in which everyone can participate and prosper. This is an important book for policymakers, advocates, and all those committed to achieving the promise of democracy.' Angela Blackwell, President of PolicyLink and co author of Searching for the Uncommon Common Ground: New Dimensions on Race in America 'If I had read Leighninger's book before my eight years on the city council, I would have been a more effective public official. Leighninger's work includes practical case examples and enough theory to allow the reader to draw broad lessons. Must reading not only for government officials, but for all kinds of community leaders, including neighborhood and policy advocates. Our commuinity building goals can only succeed as we integrate the formal institutions of government with the deliberative but less predictable work of citizenship that Leighninger describes.' John Nalbandian, who is the director of the public policy school at Kansas and the former mayor of Lawrence
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