PARTICIPATION AND DEMOCRATIC THEORY,

by Carole Pateman

1. "Classical" versus Contemporary Theories of Democracy

In the beginning of her book, Pateman describes the earlier theories of

democracy and starts with Joseph Schumpeter and his "extra-ordinarily
influential book" 'Capitalism, Socialism and Democracy' (1943).

Schumpeter depicts democracy as a political method, an institutional

arrangement for arriving at decisions. He uses the "classical doctrine" of
democracy as a starting point for critisism and attacks its ideas of a
theory of means and ends. He arrives at the realistic definition:

"That institutional arrangement for arriving at political decisions in

which individuals acquire the power to decide by means of a competitive

struggle for the people's vote". It's a competition for leadership.

Schumpeter even Helds the opinion that citizens trying to influence

representatives with personal opinions is against the spirit of the
democratic method. That is because it is an attempt by citizens to control
their representatives and contrasts with the concept of leadership.
Participation is discouraged except for the occasion of elections.
Pateman says that his characterization of the democratic method is
"almost universally accepted" in the (at least then) recent writing on
democratic theory.

Among authors arguing about participatory systems, we find Rousseau.

Rousseau's participatory system is participation in making of decisions
and a central function is its educative effects. It is designed to develop
responsible social and political action. Once it is established, it becomes
self-sustaining. The more the individual citizen participates, the better
able he is to do so. This development of the human nature is one reason
to have the participatory system. Another one is that it is claimed to give
the individual control over the course of his life. Further, it enables
collective decisions to be more easily accepted by the individual and
finally, it has an integrative function and the creation of a sense of
belonging to the community. I feel that essentially, this is about as far as
Pateman comes in arguments for participatory democracy. These
arguments are developed in much of the rest of the Paterman’s book. If
you are interested you can seek it up.

2. Participation in the Work Place

Pateman repeats Rousseau's arguments for participation that it is

educative and develops qualities for further participation as well as
subsidiary advantages that it has an integrative effect and that it helps
acceptance of collective decisions. Participation is most important in the
industry because most people spend so much of their lifetime at work
and the climate for education in collective affairs is especially promising.
She answers one objection one might have that leisure time could be
counted equally important as working time. She says that most hobbies
do not involve the production of anything.

Rather, it is consuming. More importantly, the social context is lacking in

the leisure activities. The worker who has a monotonous job may even
tend "to disorganize the rest of his life”

"Politics" is not confined to the usual national or local level, it includes

every activity, and the most important is the work place. "The theory of

Participatory democracy stands and falls on two hypotheses: the

educative function of participation and the crucial role of the industry". By
now, I'd think that most modern readers feel they have to swallow a
number of socialistic views and perspectives to be able to go on…
Answer the following questions (responder en ingles)

1. According to Shumpeter how do we depict democracy?

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2. What is the power to decide?

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3. How does Shumpeter express his considerations about personnel opinions

in a democratic environment?

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4. Who is one of the authors arguing about participatory system?

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5. How do we define Rousseau’s participatory system?

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6. How does Pateman assume Rousseau’s arguments?

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7. What does she say about social context?

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8. How can you explain the two hypotheses from theory of participatory
democracy?

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