Populist democracy

de Torbjörn Tännsjö · Publicada por primera vez en 1992

The classical or 'populist' conception of democracy in terms of a rule in accordance with the will of the people has come under attack this century by thinkers such as Joseph Schumpeter and William Riker. This book contains a defence of the populist conception against their criticisms and a statement of an ideal of democracy, cast in terms of populist democracy. A distinction is made between 'narrow' and 'wide' democratic theory. In narrow democratic theory a fruitful concept of democracy is sought. In wide democratic theory the objective is to put forward and defend a viable ideal of democracy. Problems of narrow democratic theory are addressed in the first part of the book and problems of wide democratic theory in the second. The concept of democracy is defined in 'classical' terms, to wit in terms of the majority principle and the principle of unanimity. It is maintained that, in some circumstances, it is natural to identify the will of the people with either the will of the majority or the will of all. Moreover, it is argued that, in some circumstances, rule in accordance with the majoritarian principle and the principle of unanimity is desirable. In two concluding chapters a concrete democratic ideal is put forward and defended. The appropriate role of democratic decision-making is delineated at the national political level, where a participatory, or 'communitarian' ideal is defended, and at the levels of regions, continents, and the entire world, where a cosmopolitan ideal is put forward and defended. The book is an authorative, up-to-date, and thought provoking statement of some pressing problems of political theory of the modern age, and essential reading for scholars and students of political philosophy and political science alike.