In this book, Mark I. Lichbach harmonizes causal methodology and normative democratic theory, illustrating their interrelationship.

1. Methodology's problem, and democracy's too; Part I. Rationalism and Constructivism: 2. Where democracy is to be found and why; 3. When causality is to be found and how; 4. Two Western dreams: thin and thick democracy; Part II. State-Society and Contentious Politics: 5. Pragmatic theories of a fit state: Kohli; 6. Pragmatic theories of a fit democracy: Tilly; Part III. Conclusions: Five Themes and Twelve Theses: 7. Agency; 8. Research schools; 9. Political power and democratic performance.

Mark I. Lichbach is Professor of Government and Politics at the University of Maryland. He received a BA from Brooklyn College of the City University of New York, an MA from Brown University and a PhD in political science from Northwestern University. He is the author or editor of numerous books, including the award-winning The Rebel's Dilemma, and of numerous articles that have appeared in scholarly journals in political science, economics and sociology. His work has been supported by the National Science Foundation and private foundations. Lichbach has served as book review editor of the American Political Science Review, editor of the University of Michigan Press's series on interests, identities, and institutions, and as chair of three political science departments: the University of Maryland, the University of Colorado and the University of California, Riverside.