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E-book
Author McCormick, John P., 1966-

Title Machiavellian democracy / John P. McCormick
Published Cambridge [England] ; New York : Cambridge University Press, 2011

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Description 1 online resource (xi, 252 pages) : illustrations
Contents Introduction: liberty, inequality and popular government -- Peoples, patricians, and the prince -- Democratic republics and the oppressive appetite of young nobles -- The benefits and limits of popular participation and judgment -- Elections, lotteries and class-specific institutions -- Political trials and 'the free way of life' -- Republicanism and democracy -- Post-electoral republics and the people's tribunate revived
Summary "Highlighting previously neglected democratic strains in Machiavelli's major writings, McCormick excavates institutions through which the common people of ancient, medieval, and Renaissance republics constrained the power of wealthy citizens and public magistrates, and he imagines how such institutions might be revived today"-- Provided by publisher
"Intensifying economic and political inequality poses a dangerous threat to the liberty of democratic citizens. Mounting evidence suggests that economic power, not popular will, determines public policy, and that elections consistently fail to keep public officials accountable to the people. John P. McCormick confronts this dire situation through a dramatic reinterpretation of Niccol Machiavelli, 's political thought. Highlighting previously neglected democratic strains in Machiavelli's major writings, McCormick excavates institutions through which the common people of ancient, medieval, and Renaissance republics constrained the power of wealthy citizens and public magistrates, and he imagines how such institutions might be revived today. Machiavellian Democracy fundamentally reassesses one of the central figures in the Western political canon and decisively intervenes into current debates over institutional design and democratic reform. Inspired by Machiavelli's thoughts on economic class, political accountability and popular empowerment, McCormick proposes a citizen body that excludes socioeconomic and political elites and grants randomly selected common people significant veto, legislative, and censure authority within government and over public officials"-- Provided by publisher
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references (pages 225-245) and index
Notes Print version record
Subject Machiavelli, Niccolò, 1469-1527
SUBJECT Machiavelli, Niccolò, 1469-1527 fast
Subject Democracy -- History -- To 1500
Democracy -- History -- 16th century
POLITICAL SCIENCE -- Political Ideologies -- Democracy.
Democracy
Demokratie
Genre/Form History
Form Electronic book
LC no. 2010022940
ISBN 9781139011891
1139011898
9780511975325
0511975325
9781139011105
1139011103