Jürg Steiner

From the local level to international politics, deliberation helps to increase mutual understanding and trust, in order to arrive at political decisions of high epistemic value and legitimacy. This book gives deliberation a dynamic dimension, analysing how levels of deliberation rise and fall in group discussions, and introducing the concept of 'deliberative transformative moments' and how they can be applied to deeply divided societies, where deliberation is most needed but also most difficult to work. Discussions between ex-guerrillas and ex-paramilitaries in Colombia, Serbs and Bosnjaks in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and police officers and locals in Brazilian favelas are used as case studies, with participants addressing how peace can be attained in their countries. Allowing access to the records and transcripts of the discussions opens an opportunity for practitioners of conflict resolution to apply this research to their work in trouble spots of the world, creating a link between the theory and practice of deliberation.

From the local level to international politics, deliberation helps to increase mutual understanding and trust, in order to arrive at political decisions of high epistemic value and legitimacy. This book gives deliberation a dynamic dimension, analysing how levels of deliberation rise and fall in group discussions, and introducing the concept of 'deliberative transformative moments' and how they can be applied to deeply divided societies, where deliberation is most needed but also most difficult to work. Discussions between ex-guerrillas and ex-paramilitaries in Colombia, Serbs and Bosnjaks in Bosnia-Herzegovina, and police officers and locals in Brazilian favelas are used as case studies, with participants addressing how peace can be attained in their countries. Allowing access to the records and transcripts of the discussions opens an opportunity for practitioners of conflict resolution to apply this research to their work in trouble spots of the world, creating a link between the theory and practice of deliberation.

First published in 1996. What Jurg Steiner has done with this book takes more than a pinch of professional courage. He is asking us to consider seriously the possibility that politicians make choices of conscience daily and that such choices frequently override considerations of partisanship and personal advantage.

Fragen rund um Engel werden auf Grund von Bibelversen beantwortet. Werden wir einmal Engel? Gibt es einen personlichen Schutzengel? Haben Engel Flugel? Gibt es weibliche Engel? Wie kann man serios uber Engel reden? Was ist die Aufgabe der Engel? Begleiten Engel Sterbende? Die Bibel berichtet uber Gottes Taten, und dabei erhalten die Leser uberraschende Einblicke in eine unsichtbare, dynamisch gestaltete Welt, bewohnt auch von Engel. Dieses Buch unterscheidet sich von anderen, ahnlichen Werken durch eine ansprechende Mischung von theologischem Wissen und volksnaher Sprache. Jurg Steiner, der Autor, hat bis 1998 Theologie studiert und arbeitet seither als Pfarrer. Im Rahmen einer Veranstaltung fur Erwachsene wurde der Ursprung fur diese Schrift gelegt, der pragmatische Charakter ist in den Zeilen erhalten geblieben.

Deliberative democracy is now an influential approach to the study of democracy and political behaviour. Its key proposition is that, in politics, it is not only power that counts, but good discussions and arguments too. This book examines the interplay between the normative and empirical aspects of the deliberative model of democracy. Jürg Steiner presents the main normative controversies in the literature on deliberation, including self-interest, civility and truthfulness. He then summarizes the empirical literature on deliberation and proposes methods by which the level of deliberation can be measured rather than just assumed. Steiner's empirical research is based in the work of various research groups, including experiments with ordinary citizens in the deeply divided societies of Colombia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Belgium, as well as Finland and the European Union. Steiner draws normative implications from a combination of both normative controversies and empirical findings.

Deliberative democracy is now an influential approach to the study of democracy and political behaviour. Its key proposition is that, in politics, it is not only power that counts, but good discussions and arguments too. This book examines the interplay between the normative and empirical aspects of the deliberative model of democracy. Jürg Steiner presents the main normative controversies in the literature on deliberation, including self-interest, civility and truthfulness. He then summarizes the empirical literature on deliberation and proposes methods by which the level of deliberation can be measured rather than just assumed. Steiner's empirical research is based in the work of various research groups, including experiments with ordinary citizens in the deeply divided societies of Colombia, Bosnia-Herzegovina and Belgium, as well as Finland and the European Union. Steiner draws normative implications from a combination of both normative controversies and empirical findings.

This volume gathers scholars from around the world in a comparative approach to the various educational struggles of people of African descent, advancing the search for solutions and bringing to light new facets of the experiences of black people in the era of globalization.

‘Deliberative politics’ refers to the role of conversation and arguments in politics. Until recently discussion of deliberative politics took place almost exclusively among political philosophers, but many questions raised in this philosophical discussion cry out for empirical investigation. This book provides the first extended empirical study of deliberative politics, addressing, in particular, questions of the preconditions and consequences of high level deliberation. Using parliamentary debates in Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States as an empirical base, the authors measure the level of deliberation by constructing a ‘Discourse Quality Index’. As deliberative politics moves to the forefront of political theory, this book makes an important contribution to deliberative democracy.

‘Deliberative politics’ refers to the role of conversation and arguments in politics. Until recently discussion of deliberative politics took place almost exclusively among political philosophers, but many questions raised in this philosophical discussion cry out for empirical investigation. This book provides the first extended empirical study of deliberative politics, addressing, in particular, questions of the preconditions and consequences of high level deliberation. Using parliamentary debates in Germany, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States as an empirical base, the authors measure the level of deliberation by constructing a ‘Discourse Quality Index’. As deliberative politics moves to the forefront of political theory, this book makes an important contribution to deliberative democracy.

First published in 1996. What Jurg Steiner has done with this book takes more than a pinch of professional courage. He is asking us to consider seriously the possibility that politicians make choices of conscience daily and that such choices frequently override considerations of partisanship and personal advantage.