Book excerpt: A vigorous and healthy system of representative government does not live by competitive elections alone, conclude political scientists from North America and Europe, but also requires transparency and accountability, vigorous party competition, political rights and civil liberties, many channels for political communication, and citizen participation. In ten essays updated from the 1996 edition, itself based on a conference, they consider such aspects as the politics of direct democracy through referendums and initiatives, candidate selection, campaign communications, and the dynamics of electoral participation.