The revised and updated edition of this widely acclaimed survey takes account of the very different global context in which any discussion of democracy must now take place, including the mighty power of the multinationals vis-a-vis elected governments, the resurgence of the idea of an Islamic alternative to the Western democratic ideal, and the suggestion that unelected but powerful international bodies are effectively eroding the authority of the democratic state.

Arblaster finds the core of the idea of democracy in the notion of popular power, and in the second half of his book he explores the meaning of this concept and the problems it creates.

An impassioned guide to opera's political dimension. Taking us on a tour of 200 years of great opera, from "The Marriage of Figaro" to "Nixon in China", Anthony Arblaster uncovers the political dimension of an art form all too often considered as purely aesthetic and reveals opera's full vitality and passion for liberty.