Luiza Teixeira
how it reflects the theoretical debate nowadays. For Cohen and Arato( 1992), the historicization of a concept can help deepen the understanding of the relevant conceptual models in use today.
Bobbio’ s Dictionary of Politics( 1998) distinguishes three major political thought traditions in the theory of democracy: the classical or Aristotelian theory, the medieval theory of Roman origin, and the modern theory, born with the Modern State. In classical theory, democracy is defined as government of the people, of all citizens, distinguishing, thus, the monarchy, government of one person, and aristocracy, government of few people. This line of thought has been the basis of Western thought, and has received contributions and theoretical sophistication over time. The second theoretical current highlighted by Bobbio( 1998) is the medieval theory, whose main dimension is popular sovereignty, where power derives from the people and becomes representative. This current establishes the notion that people only transfer temporarily the exercise of power to a ruler, but this power is revocable. So, the ownership of power remains with the people.
The third theoretical tradition highlighted by Bobbio( 1998), the modern republican tradition, begins with the thought of Machiavelli, who founded the concept of republic as the opposite of principality. In this current the power would not be concentrated in the hands of a single person, but distributed by various collegiate institutions. This reinforces an image of modern democracy as a polycratic regime, versus the tyrannical regime, approaching the idea of polyarchies theory developed by Robert Dahl( 1997). It is noteworthy that, although, there are conceptual distinctions between Democracy and Republic, during the development of modern theories, they appear as overlapping concepts. While it is possible to speak of an aristocratic republic, in literature, the principle of republic is almost always the classic principle of democracy.
The modern tradition adds a number of theories of opposing doctrines with regard to fundamental values, as liberal and socialist doctrines. Held( 1996), in his book, Models of Democracy, presents four classic models – Classic Democracy, Republicanism, Liberalism, and Direct Democracy – which some aspects are similar to the first and the second theoretical traditions described by Bobbio( 1998). Nevertheless, Held( 1996) also presents five contemporary models: Competitive Elitist, Pluralism, Legal, Participatory and Deliberative Democracy.
It is worth noting that the model presents a general summary of a tradition, which means that it is not an attempt to represent accurately the particular positions and the many important differences among the political theorists examined. In Table 1 a summary is presented of the Models from the twentieth century, based on Held( 2006).
Table 1: Models of democracy from the twentieth century
MODELS COMPETITIVE ELITIST DEMOCRACY
PLURALISM
LEGAL DEMOCRACY
PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY
DELIBERATIVE DEMOCRACY
3. Virtual democracy
PRINCIPLE( S) OF JUSTIFICATION
Method for the selection of a skilled and imaginative political elite capable of making necessary legislative and administrative decisions.
Secures government by minorities and, hence, political liberty. Crucial obstacle to the development of excessively powerful factions and an unresponsive state.
The majority principle is an effective and desirable way of protecting individual from arbitrary government and of maintaining liberty. However, for political life, like economic life, to be a matter of individual freedom and initiative, majority rule must be circumscribed by the rule of law. Only under these conditions can the majority principle function wisely and justly. An equal right to liberty and self‐development can only be achieved in a‘ participatory society’, a society which fosters a sense of political efficacy, nurtures a concern for collective problems and contributes to the formation of a knowledgeable citizenry capable of taking a sustained interest in the governing process. The terms and conditions of political association proceed through the free and reasoned assent of its citizens. The‘ mutual justifiability’ of political decisions is the legitimate basis for seeking solutions to collective problems.
The concept of virtual democracy also involves authors from different theoretical traditions, so from different models of democracy. Van Dijk( 2000) uses six ideals types, five of them from Held’ s models,“ as an explanatory basis for views which actually can be observed in the design and use of ICT in politics”( p. 8). The author uses two dimensions to typify the differences between the models: the first, involves what should be
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