What do you think?
Rate this book
Participation and Democratic Theory
Shows that current elitist theories are based on an inadequate understanding of the early writings of democratic theory and that much sociological evidence has been ignored.
128 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1970
3 people are currently reading
245 people want to read
About the author
Carole Pateman
24 books29 followersCarole Pateman is a feminist and political theorist. She is known as a critic of liberal democracy.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 23, 2022
An accessible review on the battle for the definition of democracy.
Since approximately 150 years, the majority has been spending the best part of their day toiling in the workplaces that are under pure dictatorial rule. We have no say in how the production should be organised and the profits should be distributed. This is very important, as it distorts our view of the world and ourselves. Pateman says, "economic under-privilege is linked to psychological under-privilege and engenders a lack of self confidence" (p. 51-52) This means, during our daily occupations, we are "trained to subservience" which largely happens in the workplace.
In every 4-5 years though, we are given the right to vote between look-alike candidates who, once elected we lose all the control on. They can do whatever they want until the next elections.
They love to call it democracy, but Pateman is not so sure. She points out that recently the concept of democracy was reshaped into something "that in many respects bears a strange resemblance to the anti-democratic arguments of the 19th century" (p. 104). Contemporary democracy is all about promoting apathy among the masses and limiting popular political participation to general elections: "Abstract democracy of the ballot box," as GDH Cole once said. Cows make milk, voters make legitimacy.
There is another democratic tradition that highlighted the various benefits of participation in both political and economic decisions. This tradition believed that our social education depends on our participation to political decision making processes at every level, including the workplace. We learn by ruling ourselves and become better citizens who are genuinely free. The second part of the book explains the participatory theories of democracy and shows some practical examples where worker participation actually enhances the productivity and increases job satisfaction.
- One missing point is a discussion about the incompatibility between capitalism and democracy. Parts of this discussion is implicated in the chapters about Yugoslavia in an unsatisfactory way. This connection was analysed better in Macpherson's The Life and Times of Liberal Democracy.
- Pateman's book is published in 1970, so you might find it a bit dated. Interestingly, however, Peter Mair's 2013 title Ruling The Void: The Hollowing Of Western Democracy makes very similar points 40 years after Pateman.
Since approximately 150 years, the majority has been spending the best part of their day toiling in the workplaces that are under pure dictatorial rule. We have no say in how the production should be organised and the profits should be distributed. This is very important, as it distorts our view of the world and ourselves. Pateman says, "economic under-privilege is linked to psychological under-privilege and engenders a lack of self confidence" (p. 51-52) This means, during our daily occupations, we are "trained to subservience" which largely happens in the workplace.
In every 4-5 years though, we are given the right to vote between look-alike candidates who, once elected we lose all the control on. They can do whatever they want until the next elections.
They love to call it democracy, but Pateman is not so sure. She points out that recently the concept of democracy was reshaped into something "that in many respects bears a strange resemblance to the anti-democratic arguments of the 19th century" (p. 104). Contemporary democracy is all about promoting apathy among the masses and limiting popular political participation to general elections: "Abstract democracy of the ballot box," as GDH Cole once said. Cows make milk, voters make legitimacy.
There is another democratic tradition that highlighted the various benefits of participation in both political and economic decisions. This tradition believed that our social education depends on our participation to political decision making processes at every level, including the workplace. We learn by ruling ourselves and become better citizens who are genuinely free. The second part of the book explains the participatory theories of democracy and shows some practical examples where worker participation actually enhances the productivity and increases job satisfaction.
- One missing point is a discussion about the incompatibility between capitalism and democracy. Parts of this discussion is implicated in the chapters about Yugoslavia in an unsatisfactory way. This connection was analysed better in Macpherson's The Life and Times of Liberal Democracy.
- Pateman's book is published in 1970, so you might find it a bit dated. Interestingly, however, Peter Mair's 2013 title Ruling The Void: The Hollowing Of Western Democracy makes very similar points 40 years after Pateman.
July 17, 2023
amo el primer capítulo pero namas leí dos. va marcado como completo y nimodo. es de la tesis Y QUE, aún así te amo carole pateman
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews