Democratic Legitimacy

by Barnard, F. M.

• ISBN13: 9780773522770
• ISBN10: 0773522778
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2003-05-01
• Publisher: McGill Queens Univ Pr

Summary

In Democratic Legitimacy Frederick Barnard argues that political accountability is as important to the democratic ethic as political participation - and equally in need of reappraisal and invigoration. Unless its importance is recognised, accountability, like participation, will remain an idea that is easy to praise but difficult to incorporate into political life. Barnard demonstrates that in a democracy accountability is more than damage control and must be part of considerations in the political forum before decisions are made, not just after the fact when trying to assign blame. Barnard argues that Western democracy, if it is to continue to exist as a legitimate political system, must maintain the integrity of its application of performative principles. Consequently, if both social and political democracy are legitimate goals, limitations designed to curb excessive political power may also be applicable in containing excessive economic power. Barnard stresses that whatever steps are taken to augment civic reciprocity, the observance and self-imposition of publicly recognized standards is vital. Democratic Legitimacy will appeal to political scientists and philosophers, as well as specialists in democratic theory.

Table of Contents

Preface	xi
1 Themes and Perspectives	3	(23)
2 Legitimacy and Democracy	26	(17)
3 Democracy and Autonomy	43	(19)
4 Autonomy, Civility, and Democratic Norms	62	(18)
5 Political Principles and Plural Ends	80	(18)
6 Market Values and Democratic Validation	98	(18)
7 Rationality and Accountability	116	(23)
8 Accountability and Participation	139	(23)
9 Critiques and Visions	162	(20)
10 Legitimacy and Limits	182	(17)
11 The Overall Argument	199	(16)
Notes	215	(38)
Index	253