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"They Ain't Making Elites Like They Used To": The Never Ending Trouble with Democratic Elitism

"They Ain't Making Elites Like They Used To": The Never Ending Trouble with Democratic Elitism <jats:sec><jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>This article identifies three central tenets of democratic elitism as developed by various authors. It then traces the fate of these ideas within democratic theory. Surprisingly, I find almost universal, if unacknowledged, acceptance of democratic elitism's principles in contemporary theories of democracy. In the public, however, there is still a strong yearning for a democracy that is closer to the ideal and more open to public participation. This is reflected in public criticisms of "detached" professional politicians. I argue that a conceptual solution to the tension between the state of democratic theory and the public's expectations may ironically be provided by one strand within the theory of democratic elitism, namely Robert Dahl's theory of polyarchy.</jats:p> </jats:sec> http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Comparative Sociology Brill

"They Ain't Making Elites Like They Used To": The Never Ending Trouble with Democratic Elitism

Borchert, Jens
Comparative Sociology , Volume 8 (3): 345 – Jan 1, 2009
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References (7)

Publisher
Brill
Copyright
© 2009 Koninklijke Brill NV, Leiden, The Netherlands
ISSN
1569-1322
eISSN
1569-1330
DOI
10.1163/156913309X447567
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

<jats:sec><jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>This article identifies three central tenets of democratic elitism as developed by various authors. It then traces the fate of these ideas within democratic theory. Surprisingly, I find almost universal, if unacknowledged, acceptance of democratic elitism's principles in contemporary theories of democracy. In the public, however, there is still a strong yearning for a democracy that is closer to the ideal and more open to public participation. This is reflected in public criticisms of "detached" professional politicians. I argue that a conceptual solution to the tension between the state of democratic theory and the public's expectations may ironically be provided by one strand within the theory of democratic elitism, namely Robert Dahl's theory of polyarchy.</jats:p> </jats:sec>

Journal

Comparative Sociology – Brill

Published: Jan 1, 2009

Keywords: COMPETITION; ELITE AUTONOMY; PARTICIPATION; POLITICAL PROFESSIONALISM; THEORIES OF DEMOCRACY

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