Introduction

Abstract

This book explores the idea of democracy as a joint government of peoples. It proposes the normative framework of a common institutional roof for liberal democratic dêmoi (peoples). In a more technical language I call this political order “multilateral democracy.” According to its basic idea, liberal democratic peoples open up their political systems, economies, and civil societies to each other, engage in common political institution building, accept common institutional constraints, and enhance the transnational rights and freedoms of their citizens. The concept does not imply that the peoples forgo their sovereignty or that there can be only one such multilateral democratic order. It is more realistic and legitimate that there are many, and that they form parts of a competitive multilateral democratic order.