Democratic Theory and Socialism

by Frank Cunningham

• ISBN13: 9780521335782
• ISBN10: 0521335787
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 1987-12-25
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Summary

This book is an important contribution to the theory of democracy and socialism. The underlying question it poses is: how, if at all, can one have both socialism and democracy? In posing an answer to this question, Professor Cunningham addresses the following topics: the definition of democracy and whether socialism is necessary to its progress: the socialist retrieval of liberal democracy associated with the work of C. B. Macpherson: the political consciousness that Gramsci placed at the center of socialist politics: and attempts by those in women's and national liberation movements to go beyond 'class reductionism' in socialist theory and practice. Unlike other works on this topic, the book devotes much attention to defining key terms and drawing politically relevant conclusions. It will therefore be fully accessible to undergraduates as well as graduates and teachers of philosophy and political science.

Table of Contents

Preface

Introduction

What is to be asked?

Marxism and methodology

Justifying Democracy and Socialism

Democracy: more or less

Justifying democracy

Capitalism, socialism and equality

Justifying socialism

The Retrieval of Liberal democracy

Liberal democracy

Superseded liberal democracy

Practical Solutions to Theoretical Problems

Class reductionism

False consciousness

Conclusion

The politics of democratic socialism

Notes

Index

Table of Contents provided by Publisher. All Rights Reserved.