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Posts by Melissa Schwartzberg

A return to onsite childcare at the annual meetings like cognate social science associations - the American Sociological Association and the American Economic Association - still offer their membership.

3 weeks ago 5 0 0 0

Big Bird is anxious, but I doubt he is Jewish, in part because he is so sincerely worried about Santa Claus on Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. (I have thought about this a lot over my life.)

1 month ago 6 0 1 0

Did he teach at Harvard? I thought he had been at the New School forever.

2 months ago 0 0 1 0

I did a summer workshop in nonfiction prose with him as a college student, before I even really knew political theory was a thing - I was much more interested in long-form journalism and was shocked to discover his other interests once I shared them!

2 months ago 4 0 1 0

I'm so sorry, Robert - may her memory be a blessing.

2 months ago 0 0 0 0
Abstract:
This review surveys the limits of participatory democracy and reconsiders its merits, with
particular emphasis on the limited attention of citizens. I trace the development of participatory
democracy within political science and democratic theory and suggest participation has fallen out
of its previously central role as a criterion of democratic quality. What remains is a set of
functions and pitfalls which I explore in a series of inquiries into participation 1) in local land
use planning, 2) in lottocracy and electoral democracy, and 3) in its relationship to
representation. I then explore how participatory democracy intersects with the production and
circulation of knowledge in complex modern societies and conclude with thoughts for future
research informed by the discussion

Abstract: This review surveys the limits of participatory democracy and reconsiders its merits, with particular emphasis on the limited attention of citizens. I trace the development of participatory democracy within political science and democratic theory and suggest participation has fallen out of its previously central role as a criterion of democratic quality. What remains is a set of functions and pitfalls which I explore in a series of inquiries into participation 1) in local land use planning, 2) in lottocracy and electoral democracy, and 3) in its relationship to representation. I then explore how participatory democracy intersects with the production and circulation of knowledge in complex modern societies and conclude with thoughts for future research informed by the discussion

I have an article forthcoming in the Annual Review of Political Science called, "Participatory Democracy & Its Limits." It focuses on limited citizen attention & how participation can backfire, w/ land use as an example.

Abstract below; here's a preprint: kevinjelliott.wordpress.com/wp-content/u...

3 months ago 95 18 7 0
Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio

NYU Politics is hiring two visiting assistant professors, preferably in political theory, in support of civic education courses for the 2026-27 academic year. Feel free to reach out to me directly with any questions. apply.interfolio.com/179756

3 months ago 6 8 0 0
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Pleased to see the enduring influence of my late NYU colleague and teacher Russell Hardin - from Ezra Klein's column in today's NYTimes.

www.nytimes.com/2025/09/07/o...

7 months ago 24 7 0 3
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You got it.

9 months ago 4 0 0 0
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NOT WELL. See, at far left, mailer received on Monday (amidst the general haul for a District 2 resident). There were several decent alternatives, including the SNL-famous Harvey Epstein.

9 months ago 3 0 1 0

Delighted to announce that Democratic Deals is the co-recipient of the David Easton Award from APSA’s Foundation of Political Theory section!

10 months ago 6 0 1 1

Truly astonishing. It makes me want to rewatch Succession just to focus on her performance.

11 months ago 4 0 0 0
Preview
Can Better Political Bargaining Make Better Democracy? A new book explains why and how.

Grateful to Brook Manville for a terrific conversation about Democratic Deals:
civicbargain.substack.com/p/can-better...

11 months ago 2 0 0 0
Apply - Interfolio {{$ctrl.$state.data.pageTitle}} - Apply - Interfolio

Faculty fellow position at NYU in XE: Experimental Humanities and Social Engagement, open to political theorists:
apply.interfolio.com/165002

1 year ago 1 0 0 0
Jury Service and Electoral Participation: A Test of the Participation Hypothesis | The Journal of Politics: Vol 70, No 2 The participation hypothesis holds that when people undertake one civic activity, their likelihood of future political participation increases. Three original studies test this hypothesis by linking t...

It's remarkable how consistently I hear these accounts - I suspect such feelings of efficacy and respect for others' judgment are the mechanisms underlying the finding that jury service increases voter participation (Gastil et al., e.g., www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/abs/10.1...)

1 year ago 5 1 0 0

@maschwar.bsky.social has much to say on the crucial democratic role of juries melissaschwartzberg.com

1 year ago 302 27 5 0

Probably - send me an email in an hour and I will check our library.

1 year ago 1 0 1 0
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We will be in Monastiraki in Athens, Karakoy in Istanbul, but are happy to explore.

1 year ago 0 0 0 0

Looking for restaurant recommendations in Athens and Istanbul - taking the teenagers, who prefer less elegant (e.g., no tasting menus), but otherwise very flexible.

1 year ago 0 0 3 0

It was just really boring - even I abandoned it.

1 year ago 0 0 0 0

hooray to Sam Klug!!

1 year ago 2 0 0 0
Preview
2025 PTPS Junior Scholars Workshop We seek paper proposals for the sixth Political Theory In/And/As Political Science (PTPS) Junior Scholars Workshop, which will take place at McGill April 25-26, 2025. An ongoing collaboration among fa...

Call for papers: political theory in/ and/ as political science junior scholars' workshop. Please circulate. #polisky @rgcs-mcgill.bsky.social

www.mcgill.ca/rgcs/ptps/20...

1 year ago 23 21 0 0

You appreciate robust commitment to the bit, as do I. I am just sorry he took off the sunglasses.

1 year ago 0 0 0 0

I had a feeling.

1 year ago 0 0 0 0

Do you have a view on Jeremy Strong's hat? Because I have views.

1 year ago 0 0 1 0

The NOMOS volume on Protest and Dissent has a number of great papers that could complement those selections.

1 year ago 1 0 1 0
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When you're ready to look this up, Democratic Deals is waiting for you:
www.hup.harvard.edu/books/978067...

1 year ago 5 1 1 0

Yes - thanks!

1 year ago 1 0 0 0
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a woman in a turtleneck sweater is standing in front of a mirror . ALT: a woman in a turtleneck sweater is standing in front of a mirror .
1 year ago 2 0 1 0

the horror, the horror

1 year ago 1 0 0 0