The Dilemma of Pluralistic Democracy

Author: (USA) Dahl
Publisher:
Publish Date: 2006-05-01
Features: Acknowledgments Potential Dilemmas Clarification of Main Premises Challenges of Pluralist Democracy National Differences More Democracy Wealth and Income Redistribution: Capitalism and Socialism Changing Citizen Orientation Remedies Appendix A Appendix B
Dahl's pluralist democracy theory has made significant contributions to the study of Western democratic theory. This book is one of Dahl's more recent works and is also considered a demonstration of the maturity of his pluralist democracy theory. For the elderly Dahl, this book can also be seen as the author's final interpretation of his pluralist democracy theory.
Pluralist democracy, also known as "" (), "modern representative democracy," or "pluralist politics," is regarded as the orthodox form of Western democratic politics. As Mr. Li Pengcheng has said, Dahl's pluralist democracy theory is a "modern 'deconstruction' of democratic forms," revealing the true mechanisms of Western modern democratic forms—i.e., the competition of group interests.
Democracy is reduced to the study of institutions rather than the abstract concept of "majority rule," thereby highlighting the utilitarian principle of interest competition and resource allocation implied by Western mainstream democratic institutions. In modern social structures, individual interests are integrated into group and organizational interests. Modern interest struggles manifest as group interest struggles, and the personal interests that democracy was originally intended to protect are instead obscured. Those who fall outside the organizational integration train are further marginalized.
Clearly, Dahl does not fully endorse this democratic model; democracy should transcend it. However, how can this transcendence be achieved? How can the modern paradox of democracy be resolved? In this book, Dahl attempts to provide answers. Whether these answers are helpful or not depends on the discerning reader to judge.
Finally, it should be noted that the purpose of introducing this book is to provide valuable academic references for the theoretical research community in China. We do not endorse many of the author's views, especially his description and commentary on the socialist system. This point, we believe, will be judged and criticized by the readers during their reading.