Book Review-3

 Theories of Democracy: A Critical Analysis 

Frank Cunningham,
Routledge Press, 2002, Pages 217

emocracy is considered to be the best form of government; nevertheless it has become an elusive goal. Modern researchers in political thought are trying to explain and discover what democracy is, how it originated as an idea, and whether it changed its forms in different circumstances. This book is an effort to explain the concept of democracy in modern times and analyse its basic theories. The book elucidates liberal democracy, classic pluralism, participatory democracy, catallaxy, democratic pragmatism, deliberative democracy and radical pluralism. The author presents a preview of the book and explains the relevance of the contemporary theories of democracy.

In the beginning the author involves the reader by building an illustration of concepts about democracy. After presenting the probable scenarios of democratic and undemocratic states, the author identifies the problems of democracy and engages the reader in visualising the concept of a true and workable democracy. The author also explains the visualisation of democracy and its prerequisites by political thinkers like Aristotle, Tocqueville and Schumpeter. The assessment of the various theories of democracy is done by their comparison and relevance to modern times. Various forms of governance, like royalty, tyranny, aristocracy, oligarchy, polity and democracy, are explained, along with their variations in the Aristotle’s nuance classification.

Aristotle argued that the best form of government would probably be ‘royalty’ followed by a properly functioning ‘aristocracy’ but it would seldom be found. In the view of political thinkers, the idea of democracy has shown some weaknesses e.g. inefficiency, elusiveness, unreliability and the difficulties involved in making collective decisions. The concept of democracy has been usurped by some politicians who corrupted it and used it to suppress a minority. Tocqueville and Aristotle agree on the idea that the people’s voice should be the basis for building a democracy. Schumpeter considers democracy a method for selecting public officials and defines it as that institutional arrangement for driving at a political decision in which individuals acquire the power to decide by means of a competitive struggle for the people’s vote. As such, free elections are a primary prerequisite for establishing democracy.

The ‘state’ is considered as another factor. In order to study the affairs of a state and its ideal behaviour in accordance with its institutions, the author has conceptualised the theme in a triangle of orientations. In this triangle of orientations, the meaning of democracy is at the apex and the value and the conduct of the institutions are at the base.

Democracy is confronted with certain weaknesses like the tyranny of the majority, which can result from a democracy leading to an aristocracy and the leadership of an elite. While explaining these concepts, the author has taken the reader to the times when the idea of a polis, or city-state was being evolved. The author traces the links between active participation and a good workable democratic system. While explaining the idea of liberating the people by giving them the right to govern, the author has also presented the frailty and vulnerability of people, which compels them to indulge in ruthless revolutions.

The rule of ‘many’ in its unbridled form can be considered similar to tyranny. It is imperative, not only to give the people the ‘choice’ but also the ‘will’ combined with a guarantee of all civic amenities to enable them to live like cultured human beings. This course points towards the need to have people’s government irrespective of the fact whether or not it is an efficient one. It will be through the process of changing governments that the democratically mature government will be established. This argument is supported by J. S. Mill, who says that the major virtue and aim of democracy is to develop people’s potentials.

The author has made a comparative analysis of the various types of democracies including analyses of the theories presented by Mill, who calls for a community partnership, and that by Thomas Hobbes who calls for a monarchy to escape the violent chaos of amoral conflict and competition. All liberal theorists agree and endorse the formation of a representative democracy after elections. The author presents his views on the basic democratic ideas like the freedom of individuals and the institutions, and the probable misuse of freedom.

The true spirit of democracy requires the people to exercise their right of franchise, irrespective of the fact whether or not it brings about a great change. Voting does not cost the people any thing but if they do not vote it can cost them almost every thing.

The book is well written and methodically laid out. Its study has great literary value and it is of relevance to the current issues of governance. The author has made an effort to compensate those readers who missed out on the works of great political scientists and philosophers.

Ahmed Ijaz Malik

Assistant Research Officer, IPRI