Introduction to Political Theory

If democracy is to involve self-government, there is a conflict between democracy,

on the one hand, and the state, on the other. This is why Held’s concept of a

‘cosmopolitan democracy’ can only be coherently sustained if the international

community ceases to be composed of states. The question of the contradiction

between democracy and the state has direct relevance for understanding the

character and quality of the democracy in ancient Greece. Only by analysing

democracy in relation to the state can we develop a relational view that makes it

possible to tackle the ‘tyranny of the majority’ argument effectively.

Questions

1. How democratic are ‘liberal democracies’?


2. Is a society more democratic if more people participate in decision-making?


3. Can a system be called democratic if it is illiberal in character?


4. Does democracy lead to the ‘tyranny of the majority’?


5. Why is democracy such a confusing concept?

References

Bauman, Z. (1976) Socialism as UtopiaLondon: George Allen and Unwin.

Crick, B. (1982) In Defence of Politics2nd edn, Harmondsworth: Penguin.

Dahl, R. (1989) Democracy and its CriticsNew Haven, CT: Yale University Press.

Dunn, J. (1979) Western Political Theory in the Face of the FutureLondon: Cambridge

University Press.

Faulks, K. (1999) Political SociologyEdinburgh: Edinburgh University Press.

Faulks, K. (2001) ‘Should Voting be Compulsory?’ Politics Review10(3), 24–5.

Goodwin, B. (1997) Using Political Ideas4th edn, Chichester: John Wiley.

Held, D. (1995) Democracy and the Global OrderCambridge: Polity Press.

Hoffman, J. (1988) State, Power and DemocracyBrighton: Wheatsheaf Books.

Hoffman, J. (1995) Beyond the StateCambridge: Polity.

Macpherson, C. (1977)The Life and Times of Liberal DemocracyLondon: Oxford University

Press.

Mouffe, C. (1996) ‘Radical Democracy or Liberal Democracy’ in D. Trend (ed.) Radical

DemocracyNew York: Routledge, 19–26.

Plato (1955) The RepublicHarmondsworth: Penguin.

Rousseau, J-J. (1968)The Social ContractHarmondsworth: Penguin.

Schumpeter, J. (1947) Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy2nd edn, New York: Harper.

Tocqueville, A. de (1966)Democracy in AmericaLondon: Fontana.

Weldon, T. (1953) The Vocabulary of PoliticsHarmondsworth: Penguin.

Further reading

Crick’s chapter 3, ‘A Defence of Politics Against Democracy’ in his In Defence of Politics

(1982) is an absolute must for all interested in the question. C.B. Macpherson’s The Life

and Times of Liberal Democracy(1977) contains a very useful assessment of different

116 Part 1 Classical ideas