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Strong Democracy: Participatory Politics for a New Age by Benjamin R. Barber
Benjamin Barber

Benjamin R. Barber is an American political theory perhaps best known for his 1996 bestseller, Jihad vs. McWorld....
 was published by the University of California Press
University of California Press

University of California Press, also known as UC Press, is a publishing house associated with the University of California that engages in academic publishing....
 in 1984 and republished in a twentieth anniversary edition in 2004. A classic of democratic theory, the book argues that representative or "thin" democracy is rooted in an individualistic "rights" perspective that diminishes the role of citizens in democratic governance. The work offers a theoretical critique of representative or liberal democracy and a foundation for participatory politics
Participatory politics

Participatory Politics or Parpolity is a theoretical political system proposed by Stephen R. Shalom, professor of political science at William Paterson University in New Jersey....
.






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Strong Democracy: Participatory Politics for a New Age by Benjamin R. Barber
Benjamin Barber

Benjamin R. Barber is an American political theory perhaps best known for his 1996 bestseller, Jihad vs. McWorld....
 was published by the University of California Press
University of California Press

University of California Press, also known as UC Press, is a publishing house associated with the University of California that engages in academic publishing....
 in 1984 and republished in a twentieth anniversary edition in 2004. A classic of democratic theory, the book argues that representative or "thin" democracy is rooted in an individualistic "rights" perspective that diminishes the role of citizens in democratic governance. The work offers a theoretical critique of representative or liberal democracy and a foundation for participatory politics
Participatory politics

Participatory Politics or Parpolity is a theoretical political system proposed by Stephen R. Shalom, professor of political science at William Paterson University in New Jersey....
. The final chapter elucidates practical ways to apply the theory of strong democracy in large industrial societies.

Critique of Liberal Democracy

Barber posits that the radical individualism that underpins liberal theory and practice actually fundamentally undermines democracy. This weak democracy produces less legitimate outcomes then under a stronger democratic structure. Barber also criticizes the liberal construction of the social contract, claiming that traditionalists influenced primarily by Hobbes view man and law as mere abstractions, which contributes to isolationism within society and a series of emergent pathologies.

Dispositions of Liberal Democracy

Barber dissects liberalism into three main dispositions, each representing a certain posture towards conflict and the relationship between the individual and the state.

Anarchist
  • Idealist
  • Radical individualist
  • Conflict-denying


Realist
  • Strong statist protection of individual rights
  • Conflict-suppressing.


Minimalist
  • Pluralist
  • Conflict-tolerating


See also

  • Participatory politics
    Participatory politics

    Participatory Politics or Parpolity is a theoretical political system proposed by Stephen R. Shalom, professor of political science at William Paterson University in New Jersey....