Models of democracy - David held

In this major new study, succinct in its analysis but far-ranging in its scope, David Held examines changing responses to questions concerning the nature, application and importance of democracy from classical Athens to modern times. The context, nature and limits of each major development in democratic theory are explored. Among the thinkers discussed are Plato, Aristotle, Hobbes, Locke, Wollstonecraft, Rousseau, Mill and Marx, as well as twentieth-century analysts of democracy including Weber, Dahl, Hayek and Macpherson.

David Held concludes the book with an argument that seeks to move contemporary discussion beyond the seemingly endless juxtaposition of one classical

position with another. He defends a conception of

democracy that departs decisively from both the liberal and Marxist traditions.

Models of Democracy has been selected as an Open University set book.

David Held is a Senior Lecturer in Social Science at the Open University. His previous publications include Introduction Theory: Horkheimer to Habermas (1980) and he is the Habermas: Critical Debates (1982), Classes, Pov™

Classical and Contemporary Debates (1982),