Democratic Extremism in Theory and Practice (Routledge Studies in Extremism and Democracy) - Hardcover

Book 29 of 75: Routledge Studies in Extremism and Democracy

Lucardie, Paul

 
9780415603126: Democratic Extremism in Theory and Practice (Routledge Studies in Extremism and Democracy)
Hardcover
ISBN 10: 0415603129 ISBN 13: 9780415603126
Publisher: Routledge, 2013

Synopsis

Democracy and extremism are usually considered as opposites. We assume that our system (in the UK, the USA, the Netherlands etc.) is democratic, and extremists try to destroy our system and introduce some kind of dictatorship, if not chaos and anarchy. Yet in many cases, the extremists seem sincere in their attempt to construct a more democratic polity. Hence, they can be called democrats and yet also extremists, in so far as they strive for a regime with characteristics that are more extreme in a significant sense.

This book analyses radical and extreme democratic theories and ideas in their historical context, interlocked with critical descriptions of historical institutions and experiments that help to evaluate the theories. Cases range from ancient Athens to recent experiments with citizen juries and citizen assemblies, from the time-honoured Swiss Landsgemeinde to contemporary (and controversial) workers’ councils in Venezuela and participatory budgeting in Porto Alegre. Among the theorists discussed here are familiar names as well as relatively unknown persons: Jean-Jacques Rousseau and Karl Marx, Murray Bookchin and John Burnheim, William Godwin and Barbara Goodwin, Anton Pannekoek and Heinz Dieterich. Whereas the extreme ideas do not seem to work very well in practice, they do indicate ways by which we could make existing political systems more democratic.

This book will be of interest to students of Politics and Current Affairs, as well as inspiration to political activists and reformists.

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About the Author

Paul Lucardie was affiliated with the Documentation Centre on Dutch Political Parties at the University of Groningen, the Netherlands, from 1979 till 2011. He has done research on Dutch parties, and especially new and extreme parties, as well as on ideologies.

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Publisher
Routledge
Publication date
2013
Language
English
ISBN 10 
0415603129
ISBN 13 
9780415603126
Binding
Hardcover
Edition number
1
Number of pages
208

Other Popular Editions of the Same Title

9781138676190: Democratic Extremism in Theory and Practice (Routledge Studies in Extremism and Democracy)

Featured Edition

ISBN 10:  1138676195 ISBN 13:  9781138676190
Publisher: Routledge, 2016
Softcover