The Theory of Democracy Revisited - Part One: The Contemporary Debate

By Giovanni Sartori

Book Overview

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

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0934540470
• ISBN13: 9780934540476
• Release Date: January 1987
• Publisher: CQ Press
• Length: 247 Pages
• Weight: 0.84 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 5.9" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Good historical revision on the democracy path

The book shows, between the lines, the fragility of the discussions and analysis on social and political issues. There are too many theories and points of view on themes such as democracy, State, civil and political societies. You can argue anything you want using anything you want: I mean, you can describe the State using the arguments of Plato, Hegel, Marx, Stuart Mill... and you will have different interpretations and images of the same thing. It's not science... there are no natural laws (like a newtonian law)! There are too many variables. Sartori tries to join Idealism and Reality... but the result is kind of empty. The book finishes too suddenly. I can't identify a real contribution for the theme from Sartori, but his analysis on the historical revisions of the steps of democracy over the centuries pays the book. Anyone interested on political "science" (what a paradox!)should read this one. You can build any sort of State or society... all you need is a point of view.