The Next Democracy? The Possibility of Popular Control

Description

Representative democracy has long been problematic and subject to erosion through the introduction of components of direct democracy (referenda, voter initiatives and systems of recall). Following the increase of direct action across the world, through the Occupy movement and the rise of new populist parties championing greater citizen inclusion in decision making, many are considering whether the hierarchical system of political control might have had its day. But what might be the alternative, next democracy? This book considers the viability of a populist conception of democratic organization, which puts power into the hands of ordinary citizens. Examining contemporary and classic theory to contextualize the critique of existing systems, the book goes on to explore alternative arrangements tested out by activists, eco-protestors and anti-capitalists – from the recent Occupy agenda to Gandhi’s experiments in alternative living. Milligan confronts the practical challenges posed by these systems of direct democracy and discusses the considerable difficulties of scaling up and sustaining them in state-level contexts. Whilst the book concedes that such concerns are genuine, it argues that a theory of generalized direct democracy can shake off its utopian aspirations and become a legitimate alternative for the future. Contents......Page 9 Introduction......Page 11 Chapter One: At the Crossroads......Page 15 Chapter Two: General Direct Democracy......Page 25 Chapter Three: Occupy and Consensus......Page 45 Chapter Four: Weber and the Difficulties of Scaling Up......Page 65 Chapter Five: Arendt and Council Democracy......Page 85 Chapter Six: The Tyranny of the Majority......Page 103 Chapter Seven: The Rule of the Unwise......Page 119 Chapter Eight: Gandhi’s Local Democracy......Page 133 Conclusion......Page 151 Bibliography......Page 159 Index......Page 163