Real Power to the People describes a unique experiment in democracy that took place during 2004–2005. In this experiment, the government of British Columbia gave its citizens the power to take control of its electoral reform process and make a final decision. This new approach to electoral reform was implemented through a citizens' assembly of 160 randomly selected, nonpartisan British Columbians and a referendum. The citizens' assembly first studied the different electoral options, listened to the views of their fellow citizens, and recommended a new electoral system for British Columbia. Later, all British Columbians took part in making a final decision on the recommended new system through the referendum. Dr. Herath was directly involved in the process as one of the assembly members. This unique new approach has gathered attention from political pundits all over the world. There are indications that other jurisdictions will adopt it. The Netherlands and Ontario have already begun to do so while there is a growing movement in California to follow suit.

The work first introduces the reader to electoral reform in general, the historic context of the new approach, and its implementation. This is followed by an explanation of the six most critical features of the new approach. The work ends with Dr. Herath's conclusions that include five important lessons to be drawn from this first time application of the new approach and its worldwide applicability.

Pre-publication reviews

“Citizens around the world who are concerned about the state of democracy and governance have been looking for innovative ways to regain power to the people, especially in the wake of centralizing tendencies witnessed today. This book is a welcome addition as it describes a unique experiment in citizen involvement via a citizen's assembly initiated and supported by the government in British Columbia, Canada.  The author- a member of the assembly provides a cogent account of the innovative exercise for electoral reform. The concept, process and intended outcomes have considerable applications elsewhere. A highly useful work for students in social sciences, politics, democracy and governance.” Dr. Siri Gamage, School of Professional Development and Leadership, University of New  England, Armidale NSW, Australia:

“I feel honored to be asked by Dr. Herath to read and comment on the original manuscript of this book from a non-academic reader’s perspective. I thoroughly enjoyed reading it. It explains complex political theories in a simple language, while narrating the amazing story of the historic Citizens’ Assembly of British Columbia.  The book is sure to appeal to everyone interested in politics and wants to learn more about electoral systems and democratic governance.” Neil Turner, Manager/ Project and Environmental Approvals, Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.

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Canadian & US orders: Please visit www.univpress.com & select “order information”; or Order by phone: toll free (800) 462-6420; please dial (717) 794-3800 if you can not access the 800 number. International orders: Please visit: http://www.univpress.com/orderinfo/INTorders.shtml for a list of representatives from whom you may order in your area; or call 1-717-794-3800 for assistance with locating a representative in your area if you can not access the internet.

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 Sri Lankan Ethnic Crisis: Towards a Resolution is a result of more than twelve years of research on the Sri Lankan ethnic crisis. It gives a vivid description of the crisis, exposes and analyses for the very first time many controversial factors that influence it, and shows a way to end it by democratic means.

Sri Lankan Ethnic Crisis: Towards a Resolution is a unique book among those written on the subject. It looks at the Sri Lankan ethnic crisis in its entirety from a completely different perspective. It gives the most condensed historic background to the crisis, encapsulating the widest possible chronological data substantiated by an extensive bibliography. It is also the timeliest publication on the subject. Most importantly, it proposes a co-ordinated solution to the Sri Lankan crisis and a realistic plan of action for its implementation. The solution so proposed equally applies in principle to other countries of similar crises.

• reach readers in both the academic and non-academic environments;

• help the reader fully understand the historic context of the ethnic crisis in Sri Lanka;

• discover and discuss in a co-ordinated manner the hidden factors that influence the crisis;

• expose the disguise of the elite and dynastic-type post-colonial rule as democracy, and the unbuddhist influence of some Buddhist monks on the ethnic crisis;

• remind the British, the last colonial power of Sri Lanka, of their responsibility for the present predicament of the Sinhalese peasantry and "stateless" Indian Tamils;

• suggest a complete solution to the crisis with a new democratic model of governance, which is equally applicable in principle to other countries suffering from ethnic strife; and

• Outline a way to implement the solution in the present political climate.

This is the first time a person outside social science academia and the journalistic world has written a book on the subject, giving the citizen's point of view on the ethnic crisis combined with a democratic solution. In his solution, the author suggests a new, bottom-up approach to the crisis, with the people at the centre of the decision making process, instead of the top-down approach that has so far failed.

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For more information or a copy at complementary price email: info@rbherath.com