A centripetal theory of democratic governance

"This book sets forth a relatively novel theory of democratic governance, applicable to all political settings in which multiparty competition obtains. Against the prevailing decentralist theory (deriving from Madison and Montesquieu), John Gerring and Strom C. Thacker argue that good governance arises when political energies are focused toward the center. Two elements must be reconciled in order for this process of gathering together to occur: institutions must be inclusive, and they must be authoritative. The authors refer to this combination of attributes as "centripetal.""--BOOK JACKET.