Abstract
M.A. (Politics)
What is democracy? In the second half of the twentieth
century the term, which may relate either to a
form of government or a form of society, has become
much used and, in the writer's opinion, misused.
Indeed, Macpherson believes there is "a good deal of
muddle about democracy" (Macpherson 1972:1).
At the start of the century's last decade this process
appears to have accelerated as the term has
become ever more topical, encouraged hugely as the
process is by the predominance of mass media communication.
The writer considers that democracy is not only a
topical term but an important concept, for students
of politics as well as for the pub Li.c at large. It
is a term which surely requires better understanding
of its meaning if the concepts and principles to
which it relates are to be valued and appreciated
appropriately.
At the beginning of his enquiries, which result in
this dissertation, the writer assumes "democracy" to
mean a form of government Which ensures an equal say
in its direct control for all citizens of sound
mind. Franchise qualifications should provide for a
reasonable minimum age but must disregard any other
differences, such as sex, race or religion.
This dissertation is undertaken in an endeavour to
clear away some of the confusion, or "muddle", which
exists regarding democracy. The writer anticipates
that elucidation will enhance not. only the possibility
of wider understanding but also prospects for
meeting the need for concerted, tenacious and widespread
efforts to obtain meaningful improvement in
levels of democratization.
The writings of two prominent political theorists,
Robert Allen Dahl and Crawford Brough Macpherson,
will be examined to ascertain and compare their
views on democracy, with the subsidiary objectives
of clarifying the meaning of democracy and ascertaining
whether real democracy exists in any sizeable
political system.
It is the writer's hypothesis that although the
basic conceptions of democracy found in the writings
of Dahl and Macpherson indicate major differences,
certain similarities have been perceived: and that
these similarities will prove valuable in stabilizing
the meaning of democracy, and in establishing
to what extent (if any) true, that is direct, democracy
exists.