1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910547696003321

Autore

Waskiewicz Andrzej <1963->

Titolo

The idea of political representation and its paradoxes / / Andrzej Waśkiewicz ; translated from Polish by Agnieszka Waśkiewicz and Marilyn Burton

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Bern, : Peter Lang International Academic Publishing Group, 2020

Berlin : , : Peter Lang, , [2020]

©2020

ISBN

3-631-80602-7

3-631-80601-9

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (270 pages)

Collana

Studies in social sciences, philosophy and history of ideas ; ; Volume 25

Disciplina

321.8

Soggetti

Representative government and representation

Democracy

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Nota di bibliografia

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Nota di contenuto

Introduction to the English-language edition -- Representation and the legitimisation of power -- Representation and sovereignty of power -- Representation and a limitation of power -- Representation and the common good -- Representation and social diversity -- A contribution to the normative theory of representation.

Sommario/riassunto

If we want to understand the vicissitudes of modern democracy then, argues the author, we need to analyse the ideas upon which representative government is based rather than compare contemporary conditions with the Greek ideal. These principal ideas have been presented clearly in past centuries, when the relation between democracy and representation was still a matter of political judgement. The old masters of political thinking clarified the functions of representation: legitimising power, creating sovereignty but also setting its limits, and pursuing the common good while still reflecting social diversity. Because institutions of representation are expected to fulfil a variety of functions, these institutions have in recent times come under attack for standing in the way of radical programs for democratising democracy. The author of this book reminds us that



these functions are necessary in every political order, whether democratic or not. Instead of rejecting representation, political theorists should focus on making government more accountable.