To be stable and effective, both democracy and democratic publics require people to be socially embedded in ongoing relationships rather than temporary mini-publics. Such relationships may be less efficient in the short term, so that some optimal policies remain out of reach, but they are better over time at generating political compromises that... See more

It is precisely because people recognize that they are involved in a repeated game that they become willing to negotiate solutions to their differences. That is why enduring collective forms such as social movements and political parties have persisted despite repeated efforts to replace them with more efficient arrangements. These vehicles of... See more

The essay describes this broad paradigm—which emphasizes the benefits of deliberation and sortition—and explains why it is insufficient for understanding or acting in a healthy democracy. We argue that we should instead focus on enduring democratic publics and how they shape collective behavior. That would raise very different questions. How might... See more