Deformations of Democracy: David Beetham in Contemporary Politics

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Deformations of Democracy

David Beetham in Contemporary Politics

Edited by: John Schwarzmantel and Helen Beetham

Language: English

Published/Copyright: 2025

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About this book

The first book length response to the work of David Beetham and in particular his original ideas about democracy and human rights

Combines academic analysis with activist perspectives
The first analysis of the work of an important scholar of democratic politics, at a time of widely diagnosed democratic decline
Explores Beetham’s characteristic definition of democracy as popular control and equal voice
Probes current threats to democracy from populism, fascism and climate crisis
Includes an unpublished essay by David Beetham himself
Reviews democratic prospects for the UK and beyond

Academics and activists debate current problems of democratic politics and seek ways to renew the ideals of democracy in a climate of disillusionment and cynicism. Taking their inspiration from the work of David Beetham, an eminent scholar of democracy in theory and practice, they analyse features of democratic crisis today, from the rise of authoritarianism to the decline of trust in parliaments. They also introduce Beetham’s work to a contemporary readership. There are new analyses of his writings on Weber, Marxism, fascism and legitimacy, as well as fresh perspectives on his definition of democracy as popular control and equal voice, a definition he founded on shared human rights. As those rights come under threat from war, climate change and advanced techno-capitalism, as well as from authoritarian politics and direct threats to democratic institutions, this book provides a guide to everyone concerned with democracy and its prospects.

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Frontmatter Publicly Available Download PDF	i
Contents Publicly Available Download PDF	v
Illustrations Publicly Available Download PDF	vii
Acknowledgements Publicly Available Download PDF	viii
Introducing David Beetham John Schwarzmantel Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	1
1 Democracy and its Deformations David Beetham Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	23
Part I Democratic Theory and Human Rights
Introduction Helen Beetham Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	35
2 Equality, Democracy and the Foresight of the Beetham Model Seema Shah Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	39
3 David Beetham’s Democratic Theory Jean-Paul Gagnon and Alex Prior Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	62
4 Human Rights and Democratic Politics Maureen Ramsay Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	87
5 The Fight for Women’s Rights in Turkey Elif Gözdaşoğlu Küçükalioğlu Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	105
Part II Authoritarianism
Introduction Helen Beetham Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	123
6 The Populist and the Parvenu: On the Continuing Relevance of Max Weber’s Account of Political Leadership Alan Scott Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	127
7 Fascism Today: What can We Learn from a Study of Marxism’s Failures? Paul Mason Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	147
Part III Representation and Legitimacy
Introduction Helen Beetham Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	165
8 Coupling Mini-Publics with Legislatures: A Solution to Parliamentary Decline? Stephen Elstub Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	169
9 Legitimacy beyond the State Erla Thrandardottir Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	189
Part IV The Way Ahead – Extending Democracy in Contemporary Politics
Introduction Helen Beetham Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	207
10 Beyond Unelected Oligarchy: Democratic Prospects for the UK Anthony Barnett, Hilary Wainwright and Helen Beetham Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	211
11 New Democratic Formations: Popular Control on a Finite Planet Helen Beetham and Hilary Wainwright Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	233
Index Requires Authentication Unlicensed Licensed	257

Publishing information

Pages and Images/Illustrations in book

eBook published on:

March 18, 2025

eBook ISBN:

9781399536639

Pages and Images/Illustrations in book

Main content:

280

https://doi.org/10.1515/9781399536639

eBook ISBN: 9781399536639

Keywords for this book

Politics

Audience(s) for this book

For universities and colleges of further and higher education

Deformations of Democracy

Overview

About this book

Topics

Table of contents

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