In Liberalism and Pluralism the author explores the challenges conflicting values, interests and identities pose to liberal democracy. Richard Bellamy illustrates his criticism and proposals by reference to such topical issues as the citizens charter, constitutional reform, the Rushdie affair and the development of the European Union.

Introduction: the challenge of pluralism PART I Liberal democracy and the exclusion of politics 1 Trading values: Hayek and the dethronement of politics by markets 2 Trimming values: Rawls and the constitutional avoidance of politics 3 Segregating values: Walzer and the communitarian containment of politics PART II Democratic liberalism and the politics of compromise 4 Negotiating values: from consensus to compromise 5 A negotiating democracy: the political constitution of a pluralist polity PART III Pluralism, liberalism and democracy in Britain 6 Trading democracy for markets: the Citizen's Charter and the contracting state 7 Trimming democracy: the Human Rights Act 8 De-segregating democracy: whose Europe, which community?

Richard Bellamy is Professor of Politics at the University of Reading. He has written extensively on this topic.