Lexington Books Democracy as the Political Empowerment of the People: The Betrayal of an Ideal

Product Description Democracy as the Political Empowerment of the People: The Betrayal of an Ideal argues that the conception of democracy that prevails in the general consciousness of the contemporary world is a distorted version of the "original" idea of democracy. An important component of democracy in its original formulation was the ideal of the citizens' direct participation in the legislative and political decision-making process, yet modern representative governments frequently disregard this fundamental component. While often justified by claims of impracticality, Majid Behrouzi sets up the case for a return to the ideal of direct democracy. Offering a short conceptual history of the idea of democracy, this book aims to provide an account of the efforts and the relevant historical and theoretical developments that have contributed to the "perversion" of the original idea of democracy, ultimately retrieving the idea of the direct, deliberative, and equal participation of all citizens in political decision-making. Together with its companion volume, Democracy as the Political Empowerment of the Citizen: Direct-Deliberative e-Democracy, this book is essential to scholars interested in the evolution of modern democracy and the future of politics. Review An impressive work. . . . Tracing the development of democracy from the Greeks to Marx, Behrouzi argues that democracy ends up being treated as an ideal that cannot be recovered. The most unique aspect of the author's intellectual history is his account of 'the perversion of the original idea of democracy.' The author seeks to recover the 'original idea of democracy' developed in ancient Athens. . . . Clearly written and accessible to undergraduates. Highly Recommended. Lower-division undergraduates and above.--CHOICE Majid Behrouzi's exhaustive and illuminating account of democracy as the 'rule by the people' takes on increased importance with new demands, in the U.S. and around the world, for citizens' substantive participation in the democratic process. Behrouzi puts pressure on democracy to live up to its full ideal and exposes those conceptions of democracy that betray its promise. In his second volume, he finds the solution in e-democracy--a stunning account backed by a genuinely illuminating and full theory.--Joseph P. DeMarco, professor of philosophy, Cleveland State University A richly comprehensive and commanding treatment of the many theories of democracy, of much value to students and scholars alike.--Michael Parenti, author of The Face of Imperialism and God and His Demons Behrouzi's Democracy as the Political Empowerment of the People: The Betrayal of an Ideal sets out an original and powerful attack on liberal democracy as a perversion of the democratic ideal. By laying claim to the idea that genuine democracy constitutes the direct participation of citizens in the legislative and political decision-making process, Behrouzi persuasively shows that the preoccupation with political representation in both democratic theory and practice is misplaced. This attack by Behrouzi lays the groundwork for his own distinctive account of democracy in the companion volume Democracy as the Political empowerment of the Citizen: Direct-Deliberative e-Democracy.--Lesley Jacobs, professor of law and society and director of the Graduate Program in Social and Political Thought, York University This is a sound and instructive review of the history of democratic thought. It is also extremely well-researched and informed by a broad familiarity with contemporary theory. The author is particularly adept at seeking the authentic democratic kernels and missteps in each vision, as well as the dialogue among the various traditions and their exponents. . . . In this sense the work is refreshingly broad and synthetic, an achievement that is valuable in the contemporary context of parochialism in political thought.--Richard Wellen, professor of social sciences, York University (Can