The Life and Times of Liberal DemocracyIn this brief but powerful book, acclaimed political philosopher C.B. Macpherson sets out in bold relief the essence of liberal democracy, both as it is currently conceived and as it might be reimagined. Macpherson argues that from its beginnings liberal democracy has accepted the underpinning principle of capitalist societies, that the "market maketh man." If that remains the central assumption of liberal democracy, Macpherson declares, then as an organizing framework for society, liberal democracy has reached the end of its useful life. But if a broader concept of liberal democracy is accepted-"if [Macpherson writes] liberal democracy is taken to mean a society striving to ensure that all its members are equally free to realize their capabilities"--The great days of liberal democracy may yet lie ahead. |
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Models and Precursors | 1 |
PRECURSORS OF LIBERAL DEMOCRACY | 9 |
Model | 25 |
Copyright | |
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accepted active actual amount appear argued assume assumptions benefit Bentham called capital capitalist century citizens claim competitive consumer countries demands demo democratic dependent descriptive desirable direct earlier economic effective elected electorate equal equilibrium excluding existing expected extent follow force franchise function give happiness held hope human Ibid increase independent individual inequality interests James John kind labour leading least less liberal democracy limited look market society maximizing means Mill Mill's Model moral move nature necessary needed nineteenth century operate participation participatory democracy party system person pleasure political system popular position possible present prevail principle problem produce question reason relation responsible rule seems seen social society suffrage theorists theory things thought tion twentieth century universal vote wealth Western whole women