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Deliberative Democracy and the Rhetorical Production of Political Culture
- Rhetoric & Public Affairs
- Michigan State University Press
- Volume 5, Number 4, Winter 2002
- pp. 679-707
- 10.1353/rap.2003.0020
- Article
- Additional Information
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Conceptualizing public deliberation as dialogue does not direct political challengers to speak in politically effective ways. Thus, theories of deliberative democracy calling for cooperative dialogue in pursuit of mutual understanding impede rather than foster more thoroughly democratic deliberation. Only a view of public deliberation that foregrounds strategic cultural engagement amidst conflict can adequately prepare political actors for the challenge of effective political participation.