The Principles of Representative GovernmentThe thesis of this original and provocative book is that representative government should be understood as a combination of democratic and undemocratic, aristocratic elements. Professor Manin challenges the conventional view that representative democracy is no more than an indirect form of government by the people, in which citizens elect representatives only because they cannot assemble and govern in person. The argument is developed by examining the historical moments when the present institutional arrangements were chosen from among the then available alternatives. Professor Manin reminds us that while today representative institutions and democracy appear as virtually indistinguishable, when representative government was first established in Europe and America, it was designed in opposition to democracy proper. Drawing on the procedures used in earlier republican systems, from classical Athens to Renaissance Florence, in order to highlight the alternatives that were forsaken, Manin brings to the fore the generally overlooked results of representative mechanisms. These include the elitist aspect of elections and the non-binding character of campaign promises. |
What people are saying - Write a review
We haven't found any reviews in the usual places.
Contents
Direct democracy and representation selection of officials in Athens | 8 |
The triumph of election | 42 |
the lessons of history | 44 |
The political theory of election and lot in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries | 67 |
consenting to power rather than holding office | 79 |
The principle of distinction | 94 |
England | 95 |
France | 98 |
The verdict of the people | 161 |
Partial independence of representatives | 163 |
Freedom of public opinion | 167 |
The repeated character of elections | 175 |
Trial by discussion | 183 |
Metamorphoses of representative government | 193 |
Parliamentarianism | 202 |
Party democracy | 206 |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
Anti-Federalists argument aristocratic Aristotle Assembly Athenian Democracy Athens benefit candidates Carl Schmitt centuriate assemblies choice choose citizens classes cleavages concept conflict consent constitution Corporatism Council courts culture debate decisions defined definition democratic discussion distinction effect egalitarian electoral districts elites equality equality of outcome established expression fact favor Federalist find first Florentine Freedom of public functions govem Guicciardini Hansen Harrington individuals influence institutions justified Madison magistracies magistrates Melancton Smith ment modern Montesquieu natural aristocracy nature of election office oligarchic Parliament parliamentarianism particular party democracy person political polls popular prerogative century principle procedure property qualification proposed public office public opinion reason reflected regarded representation representative democracy representative government republic republican role rotation Rousseau rulers Schmitt Schumpeter selection by lot sense Siéyes social Social Contract specific speech sufficient suffrage superior term tion tive traits Treatise of Government University Press vote voters wealth
References to this book
Bibliographic information
| Title | The Principles of Representative Government Themes in the Social Sciences |
| Author | Bernard Manin |
| Editors | Jack Goody, Geoffrey Hawthorn |
| Contributors | John Dunn, Jack Goody, Geoffrey Hawthorn |
| Edition | illustrated, reprint |
| Publisher | Cambridge University Press, 1997 |
| ISBN | 0521458919, 9780521458917 |
| Length | 243 pages |
| Subjects | › › Political Science / History & Theory Political Science / Political Process / Campaigns & Elections Political Science / Political Process / Leadership |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |