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The Theory of Democracy Revisited #1
The Theory of Democracy Revisited, Part One: The Contemporary Debate
This is part one of a two-volume set.
"...[Sartori] reviews the major democratic theories of our time and canvasses astutely the salient issues among them. Sartori synthesizes a theory of his own which he proffers as a new mainstream view to his readers. His trenchant and swift-moving argument moves deftly among competing schools of thought. The book′s greatest strength lies in Sartori′s demonstration that prescriptive and descriptive theories (the ideal and the real) must be blended, to be valid, in an integral whole―in theory of the democratically possible. The clarity and dramatic power of this erudite work render it very accessible to undergraduate students."
– William T. Bluhm, The University of Rochester
"...[Sartori] reviews the major democratic theories of our time and canvasses astutely the salient issues among them. Sartori synthesizes a theory of his own which he proffers as a new mainstream view to his readers. His trenchant and swift-moving argument moves deftly among competing schools of thought. The book′s greatest strength lies in Sartori′s demonstration that prescriptive and descriptive theories (the ideal and the real) must be blended, to be valid, in an integral whole―in theory of the democratically possible. The clarity and dramatic power of this erudite work render it very accessible to undergraduate students."
– William T. Bluhm, The University of Rochester
- GenresPolitics
247 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1987
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About the author
Giovanni Sartori
70 books83 followersGiovanni Sartori is an Italian political scientist specialized in the study of democracy and comparative politics.
Born in Florence in 1924. Sartori began his academic career as a lecturer in the History of Modern Philosophy. He founded the first Political Science academic post in Italy, and was Dean of the newly formed University of Florence's Department of Political Science. Sartori served as Albert Schweitzer Professor in the Humanities at Columbia University from 1979 to 1994 and was later appointed Professor Emeritus.
He is a recipient of a Prince of Asturias Award (Social Sciences area, 2005). In 2009, he was the recipient of the Karl Deutsch Award of the International Political Science Association (IPSA), which honours a prominent scholar engaged in the cross-disciplinary research.
Sartori is a regular contributor, as an op-ed writer, of the leading Italian newspaper "Corriere della Sera". His article "Concept Misformation in Comparative Politics" is prominent in the field, leading Gary Goertz to write, "There are few articles in political science that deserve the predicate "classic," but Sartori's ... merits the label."
Born in Florence in 1924. Sartori began his academic career as a lecturer in the History of Modern Philosophy. He founded the first Political Science academic post in Italy, and was Dean of the newly formed University of Florence's Department of Political Science. Sartori served as Albert Schweitzer Professor in the Humanities at Columbia University from 1979 to 1994 and was later appointed Professor Emeritus.
He is a recipient of a Prince of Asturias Award (Social Sciences area, 2005). In 2009, he was the recipient of the Karl Deutsch Award of the International Political Science Association (IPSA), which honours a prominent scholar engaged in the cross-disciplinary research.
Sartori is a regular contributor, as an op-ed writer, of the leading Italian newspaper "Corriere della Sera". His article "Concept Misformation in Comparative Politics" is prominent in the field, leading Gary Goertz to write, "There are few articles in political science that deserve the predicate "classic," but Sartori's ... merits the label."
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 27, 2017
Did not read his original Democracy Theory, so I cannot tell how has his thoughts changed, but this is a pretty well developped and well researched book in terms of the extensive bibliography Sartori presents to back up his claims.
He brings some pretty good points to take down a bunch of critiques and theories against representative democracy as we know today, and goes even further by saying that the governments are already too opened and transparent, and that this fact only pushes democracy back.
He also claims that democracy does not and should not mean the people are the ones who own and run the government, but rather they are the ones the profit from it - equally - whoever runs it.
Though I agree with the fact that politics and government itself are way too great, complicated and sophisticated for common people to understand thoroughly and that the referendum democracy would fail miserably, that is where I disagree with him: democracy itself should indeed be the government of the people - and of course, for the people - and either the terminology should be changed or politics should stop pretending to serve the people (through propaganda and the demagoguery itself) and really account to them instead of running the nowadays plutocracy. After all, 4 years apart elections and some popular pression (won't consider the popular memory against bad politicians, for without the "help" of the mainstream media this memory is meager at best) are not the best ways to exercise power.
After all said and done, it's a pretty good book, and well worth the read.
He brings some pretty good points to take down a bunch of critiques and theories against representative democracy as we know today, and goes even further by saying that the governments are already too opened and transparent, and that this fact only pushes democracy back.
He also claims that democracy does not and should not mean the people are the ones who own and run the government, but rather they are the ones the profit from it - equally - whoever runs it.
Though I agree with the fact that politics and government itself are way too great, complicated and sophisticated for common people to understand thoroughly and that the referendum democracy would fail miserably, that is where I disagree with him: democracy itself should indeed be the government of the people - and of course, for the people - and either the terminology should be changed or politics should stop pretending to serve the people (through propaganda and the demagoguery itself) and really account to them instead of running the nowadays plutocracy. After all, 4 years apart elections and some popular pression (won't consider the popular memory against bad politicians, for without the "help" of the mainstream media this memory is meager at best) are not the best ways to exercise power.
After all said and done, it's a pretty good book, and well worth the read.
January 10, 2021
Clásico
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews