Elite Foundations of Liberal Democracy

by John Higley and Michael Burton

Book Overview

This compelling and convincing study, the capstone of decades of research, argues that political regimes are created and sustained by elites. Liberal democracies are no exception; they depend, above all, on the formation and persistence of consensually united elites. John Higley and Michael Burton explore the circumstances and ways in which such elites have formed in the modern world. They identify pressures that may cause a basic change in the structure and functioning of elites in established liberal democracies, and they ask if the elites cluster around George W. Bush are a harbinger of this change. The authors' powerful and important argument reframes our thinking about liberal democracy and questions optimistic assumptions about the prospects for its spread in the twenty-first century.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0742553612
• ISBN13: 9780742553613
• Release Date: August 2006
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
• Length: 238 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 6.0" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

A Pragmatic View on Modern "Democratic" Governments

This book is the peak of Higley and Burton's long-time "elite theory", which basically argues that the political elites of 'liberal democracies' come together and 'principally agree to not act on principle'. This act allows for the status quo to mainly stay intact, which allows both left and right to stay in positions of power and governments to remain relatively stable. This book abounds with examples, mainly being separated by colonial and non-colonial nations and the variances of the 'elite theory' that occurs in each. Do not fear, this book is not written by ideologues. The book contains a non-partisan theory of rule and governance without passing judgement on either left or right wing rulings. It will leave you with a much more appreciative viewpoint on the subtleness and cleverness of Democracy.