Representation

Key Concepts (Polity)

by David Runciman, Monica Brito Vieira

What is representation? What does it mean when a politician represents citizens in government? How can citizens be represented beyond the boundaries of the nation-state?These are just some of the questions which will be answered by David Runciman and Monica Brito Vieira as they explain why representation should be understood as one of the key concepts in modern politics. The first part of the book examines the historical roots of the concept of representation, from its origins in ancient Rome through to its role in the revolutionary politics of the modern world. The second looks at different varieties of representation - in law as well as politics. The final part asks how the concept of representation can help us think creatively about current and future challenges facing the world.

Representation is too often treated as a secondary or qualifying idea - as in the phrase 'representative democracy'. This book argues that we have this the wrong way round. Representation is the foundational idea in almost all areas of our political life. Making sense of representation in its own terms is crucial for seeing why democracy functions the way it does, and for exploring how it might function differently.

Genres: Politics, Philosophy

232 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 2013

About the author

David Runciman teaches politics at Cambridge.

He writes regularly about politics and current affairs for a wide range of publications including the London Review of Books. The author of several books, he also hosted the widely-acclaimed podcast Talking Politics, along with the series ‘History of Ideas’. Past Present Future* is his new weekly podcast, where he is exploring the history of ideas from politics to philosophy, culture to technology.

*Ideas from the past, questions about the present, shaping the future.

Reviews

[Pavol Hardos · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a good introduction to the concept of representation, a clear & comprehensive overview ideal for undergraduate instruction on the topic. Surprisingly, it's the last chapters, on the politics of representation, especially representation beyond the nation-state, that come out the weakest comparatively - they are the least clear and most prone to dispense generalities - though this might be the fault of the state of the theorizing on the topic itself. But it is still a sufficient and adequate discussion of the topic and does not diminish the overall value of the book. Recommended.