Criticizing Science Stephen Jay Gould And The Struggle For American Democracy

Recapturing Democracy is a short yet synoptic introduction to urban democracy in our era of political neoliberalism and economic globalization. Combining an original argument with a number of case studies, Mark Purcell explores the condition of democracy in contemporary Western cities. Whereas many scholars focus on what Purcell calls “procedural democracy” - i.e., electoral politics and access to it - he instead assesses “substantive democracy.” By this he means the people’s ability to have some say over issues of social justice, material well being, and economic equality.