Democratic elitism : new theoretical and comparative perspectives

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Democratic elitism : new theoretical and comparative perspectives

edited by Heinrich Best and John Higley

(International studies in sociology and social anthropology, v. 111)

Brill, 2010

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Includes index

Description and Table of Contents

Description

Joseph Schumpeter's "competitive theory of democracy" - often labeled democratic elitism - has struck many as an apt and insightful description of how representative democracy works, even though convinced democrats detect an elitist thrust they find disturbing. But neither Schumpeter nor subsequent defenders of democratic elitism have paid enough attention to actual behaviors of leaders and elites. Attention has been riveted on how adequately democratic elitism captures the relationship between governors and governed in its insistence that competitive elections prevent the relationship from being one-way, that is, leaders and elites largely unaccountable to passive and submissive voters. Why and how leaders and elites create and sustain competitive elections, what happens if their competitions become excessively stage-managed or belligerent - how, in short, leaders and elites really act - are some of the issues this book addresses. Contributors are Heinrich Best, Jens Borchert, Michael Edinger, Fredrik Engelstad, Trygve Gulbrandsen, John Higley, Gabriella Ilonszki, Andras Koeroesenyi, Mindaugas Kuklys, Gyorgy Lengyel, Anton Steen, and Jacek Wasilewski.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgements Table of Contributors Introduction: Democratic Elitism Reappraised, Heinrich Best and John Higley PART I: DEMOCRATIC ELITISM: THEORETICAL PERSPECTIVES "They Ain't Making Elites Like They Used To": The Never-Ending Trouble with Democratic Elitism, Jens Borchert Beyond the Happy Consensus about Democratic Elitism, Andras Koeroesenyi Democratic Elitism - Conflict and Consensus, Fredrik Engelstad Elites' Illusions about Democracy, John Higley PART II: DEMOCRATIC ELITISM: COMPARATIVE PERSPECTIVES Associated Rivals: Antagonism and Cooperation in the German Political Elite, Heinrich Best Political versus Media Elites in Norway, Trygve Gulbrandsen Elite Formation and Democratic Elitism in Central and Eastern Europe: A Comparative Analysis, Michael Edinger Hungary: Between Consolidated and Simulated Democracy, Gyorgy Lengyel and Gabriella Ilonszki The Assault on Democratic Elitism in Poland, Jacek Wasilewski Democracy by Elite Co-optation: Democratic Elitism in Multi-Ethnic States, Anton Steen with Mindaugas Kuklys Epilogue: Democratic Elitism and Western Political Thought, John Higley Index

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