The Humanist magazine Free Inquiry invites short essays on the subject of the value of citizen participation for democracy, to be published in a special October/November 2008 issue. The key question: Do better social, economic, or international policies tend to result from greater voter participation? Recent criticisms, such as those of B. Caplan’s The Myth of the Rational Voter, challenge the progressive hope that popular democracy is more efficient and smarter than alternative political systems.

A contribution can be as short as 1000 words, or up to 2500 words, written for a popular audience in a non-technical style (bibliography but no footnotes, etc). Deadline: June 15, 2008. We welcome contributors from a variety of stances on this political issue, and submissions will be judged on their ability to provide an informed and well-argued perspective for the general public.

Submissions and questions may be directed to John Shook, jshook@pragmatism.org. See also www.secularhumanism.org