Melissa Schwartzberg

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

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!

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

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...

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

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...

You got it.

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.

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

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

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...

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

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...)

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

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

We will be in Monastiraki in Athens, Karakoy in Istanbul, but are happy to explore.

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

It was just really boring - even I abandoned it.

hooray to Sam Klug!!

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...

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

I had a feeling.

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

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

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

Yes - thanks!

the horror, the horror

No, it has been shut down, but it has been written in the stars and inscribed on the hearts of all NYU faculty evermore.

We now have one dog photo, dozens more requests to be removed from the list, a (repeated) call for unionization/divestment, a (frankly sad) repeated mention of a recently deceased brother, and a call to celebrate 30 years of service by aforementioned vice provost.