David Beetham
Encyclopedia
David Beetham is a social theorist who has made extensive contributions in the fields of democracy
and human rights
; including in his approach to the role of not only social but also economic rights.
until April 1980 when he left to take up the Professorship of Politics (succeeding Ralph Miliband
) at the University of Leeds
.
He has been on consultant on democracy to the Council of Europe, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and UNESCO
. His study Introducing Democracy, 80 Questions and Answers (jointly authored with Professor Kevin Boyle of Essex University) was commissioned by Unesco and published world-wide in many languages. Closer to home, he is the initiator of the 'democratic audit'.
, Stockholm. Beetham describes the democratic audit as 'the simple but ambitious project of assessing the state of democracy in a single country'. It has been applied to assess the extent, and limits, of democracy in the United Kingdom. His contributions to the democratic audit and assessment of democarcy led to his appointment as Director of Research at the IDEA (International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assessment), Stockholm.
Beetham is the a leading authority on Max Weber
. His authority was established through the publication ofin 1974 of his book Max Weber and the Theory of Modern Politics. He also pioneered élite theory
, drawing attention to the writings of Robert Michels
. He also made susbtantial contributions in Marxist theories and analyses of fascism, and produced the famous The Legitimation of Power
.
He also holds a position as a Professor Emeritus at the University of Leeds
.
Germany and the 1905 and 1917 Russian revolutions.
Democracy
Democracy is generally defined as a form of government in which all adult citizens have an equal say in the decisions that affect their lives. Ideally, this includes equal participation in the proposal, development and passage of legislation into law...
and human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
; including in his approach to the role of not only social but also economic rights.
Career
Beetham worked at the University of ManchesterUniversity of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
until April 1980 when he left to take up the Professorship of Politics (succeeding Ralph Miliband
Ralph Miliband
Ralph Miliband , born Adolphe Miliband, was a Belgian-born British sociologist known as a prominent Marxist thinker...
) at the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
.
He has been on consultant on democracy to the Council of Europe, the Inter-Parliamentary Union and UNESCO
UNESCO
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations...
. His study Introducing Democracy, 80 Questions and Answers (jointly authored with Professor Kevin Boyle of Essex University) was commissioned by Unesco and published world-wide in many languages. Closer to home, he is the initiator of the 'democratic audit'.
The Democratic Audit
He is a major contributor and Associate Director of the UK Democratic Audit, which is based in the Human Rights Centre at the University of Essex. He directed a programme on democracy and human rights for the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral AssistanceInternational Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance is an international organization based in Stockholm. Its task is to support democracy around the world.- Aims :...
, Stockholm. Beetham describes the democratic audit as 'the simple but ambitious project of assessing the state of democracy in a single country'. It has been applied to assess the extent, and limits, of democracy in the United Kingdom. His contributions to the democratic audit and assessment of democarcy led to his appointment as Director of Research at the IDEA (International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assessment), Stockholm.
Beetham is the a leading authority on Max Weber
Max Weber
Karl Emil Maximilian "Max" Weber was a German sociologist and political economist who profoundly influenced social theory, social research, and the discipline of sociology itself...
. His authority was established through the publication ofin 1974 of his book Max Weber and the Theory of Modern Politics. He also pioneered élite theory
Elite theory
In political science and sociology, elite theory is a theory of the state which seeks to describe and explain the power relationships in contemporary society. The theory posits that a small minority, consisting of members of the economic elite and policy-planning networks, holds the most power and...
, drawing attention to the writings of Robert Michels
Robert Michels
Robert Michels was a German sociologist who wrote on the political behavior of intellectual elites and contributed to elite theory...
. He also made susbtantial contributions in Marxist theories and analyses of fascism, and produced the famous The Legitimation of Power
The Legitimation of Power
The Legitimation of Power by David Beetham is a famous political theory text. The book examines the legitimation of power as an essential issue for social scientists to take into account - looking at both relationships between legitimacy and the variety of contemporary political systems.-...
.
He also holds a position as a Professor Emeritus at the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...
.
David Beetham (1974) Max Weber and the Theory of Modern Politics
This work examines Weber's discussions of the prospects for liberal Parliamentarism in authoritarian societies. This is within an age defined by both mass politics and bureaucratic organization. Beetham argues that Weber's analysis of the class basis of politics means that we should modify some of the more standard interpretations of Weber's sociology of modern capitalism. The book also includes Weber's discussion of WilhelmineWilhelmine
Wilhelmine is a term for the period of German history, also known as the German Empire. The term Wilhelmine Germany refers to the period running from the proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Kaiser at Versailles in 1871 to the abdication of his grandson Wilhelm II in 1918.Although the father of...
Germany and the 1905 and 1917 Russian revolutions.