Albeit democracy being "the worst form of government", according to Churchill, it has proven remarkably tenacious. Democracy's infancy can be traced back to ancient Greece, and provides for key driver of social change.
During industialization, representative democracy, as form of government, rose to become the pre-eminent tool to organize societies in the northern hemisphere.
This work looks at some key thinkers and intersections representative democracy was shaped by.
It then elaborates briefly on the current state of representative democracy and its future prospects.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- A never ending story? On the need of representative democracy to adapt to social change
- Exclusion through inclusion: Pericles and democracy in the Athenian polis
- Democracy and the rise of mass politics during industrialization
- Leadership qualities: Machiavelli and Blair
- A constant need for adaptation: representative democracy in the information age
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This essay aims to explore the evolution and ongoing relevance of representative democracy in a rapidly changing world. It delves into the historical roots of democracy in ancient Greece and examines how it has adapted to the challenges posed by mass industrialization and the information age.
- The evolution of democratic practices from direct to representative democracy
- The impact of industrialization on the development of representative democracy
- The role of leadership and its influence on the functioning of representative democracy
- The challenges and opportunities presented by the information age for representative democracy
- The ongoing need for adaptation and reinvention of representative democracy to maintain its legitimacy and relevance.
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
- Exclusion through inclusion: Pericles and democracy in the Athenian polis This chapter introduces the concept of direct democracy in ancient Greece, focusing on the views of Pericles, a prominent advocate of Athenian democracy. It analyzes the limitations of Pericles' model, particularly its exclusion of women, slaves, and foreigners, and its suitability in the context of a small city-state compared to the complex demands of a modern society.
- Democracy and the rise of mass politics during industrialization This chapter discusses the emergence of representative democracy as a response to the changing social and economic dynamics of the 19th century. It examines the role of industrialization, class consciousness, and the rise of political parties in shaping the development of representative democracy.
- Leadership qualities: Machiavelli and Blair This chapter explores the importance of leadership in representative democracy and analyzes the insights of Niccolo Machiavelli, a 15th-century political theorist, on the qualities of effective leadership. It connects Machiavelli's ideas to the leadership style of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, providing a contemporary example of Machiavelli's enduring influence.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
The core concepts explored in this essay include: representative democracy, direct democracy, industrialization, information age, social change, leadership, political participation, political parties, mass politics, inclusivity, and adaptation.
- Quote paper
- Christian Scheinpflug (Author), 2010, A never ending story: On the need of representative democracy to adapt to social change, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/173662
