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"News for US: Citizen-Centered Journalism" is a book that explores the current state of the news industry, particularly at the local level, and offers a refreshing approach to journalism. The book discusses the concept of relational journalism, which emphasizes engaging citizens in difficult conversations to solve shared public problems. It also provides practical skillsets for practicing relational journalism, including building trust, collaborating with citizens, and maintaining transparency. The book offers case studies and discusses the future of sustainable journalism, providing valuable insights for both professionals and students in the field. [Extracted from the article]

"Heritage and Democracy: Crisis, Critique, and Collaboration" is a book edited by Kathryn Lafrenz Samuels and Jon D. Daehnke that explores the intersection of heritage and democracy. The book takes a critical approach to heritage, examining its role in contemporary sociopolitical contexts such as identity, memory, heritage destruction, forced migration, and climate change. The volume features chapters that delve into themes such as Indigenous heritage rights, heritage and politics, the impact of forced migration on heritage, and the role of heritage in education. Through case studies and critical perspectives, the book highlights the transformative potential of heritage in promoting social justice and inclusive democratic practices. [Extracted from the article]

Hicken assesses Indonesia's democracy as "generally healthy", but warns of two vulnerabilities: "weak political parties and high levels of electoral clientelism" and, most troubling, "the increasingly polarized political and social environment" (p. 43). How far has Indonesian democracy regressed during the administration of President Joko Widodo (Jokowi), 2014-present, after stagnating during the two terms (2004-2014) of President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono (SBY)? Mietzner's remedies are state funding of party campaigns and a return to the closed party list electoral system (in which party leadership chooses legislative candidates), in effect from 1999 to 2004, but replaced in 2009 by the open list system (in which candidates within parties compete for seats). [Extracted from the article]

The article titled "Communication from below. History, meanings, and practices of alternative communication in Spain" is a review of the book coordinated by Alejandro Barranquero and Chiara Sáez Baeza. The book examines the phenomenon of alternative communication in Spain from a historical, political, and institutional perspective, contextualizing it both at a national and international level. It also documents the practices and collective representations of the main actors of alternative communication in Spain from the end of Franco's regime to the beginning of the democratic transition. The book is based on an empirical tradition of works that have studied alternative media worldwide and uses theoretical tools from different traditions of critical thinking. Additionally, it has a political approach that advocates for communication policies oriented towards participatory democracy and social, environmental, and gender justice. [Extracted from the article]

The article reviews the book "De la démocratie participative: Fondements et limites," by Marc Crépon and Bernard Stiegler.

The article reviews the book "Learning Citizenship by Practicing Democracy: International Initiatives and Perspectives," edited by Elizabeth Pinnington and Daniel Schugurensky.

The article reviews the book "Punishment, Participatory Democracy & the Jury," by Albert W. Dzur.

Following the introduction, there are chapters on each of the four countries studied (Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa, and Tunisia), followed by what is termed an "Afterword." That on Zimbabwe takes us step by step through the vicious brutalities of Mugabe's regime, the failed promise of the Movement for Democratic Change, and the continuance of authoritarianism under the new, military backed government of Emmerson Mnangagwa. The afterword is just that providing us largely with updates which pick up where the chapters on Zimbabwe and South Africa leave off. [Extracted from the article]

A review of the book "Deepening Local Democracy in Latin America: Participation, Decentralization, and the Left," by Benjamin Goldfrank, is presented.

A review of the book "Participatory Development in Kenya," by Josephine S. Mwanzia, and Robert C. Strathdee is presented.

Reviews the book "Mary P. Follett: Creating Democracy Transforming Management," by Joan C. Tonn.

A review of the book "The Limits to Citizen Power: Participatory Democracy and the Entanglements of the State," by Victor Albert, is presented.