Analysis Of Benjamin R.Barber’s Strong Democracy Theory

Although liberal democracy as the dominant form of democracy in the world today, it is constructed in the theory and institutional practice, there are many defects. Liberal democracy is essentially free, instead of democracy, democracy is freedom means freedom is the ultimate goal. Liberalism as a type of atomic materialization, the human nature is self-interest alone, and aggressive. Liberalism always managed to open the safe isolation of the people and not friendly to each other. Representative form of government as a form of the practice of liberal democracy, there is a serious shortage. The representative form of government is bureaucratic domination and elitism. The majority people are excluded from politics, but can not participate effectively. Representative democracy, the role of the people’s elected representatives. After the election, people will become zero. Liberalism, representative democracy does not comply with the democracy of the original will, can not meet the requirements of the people involved in politics.Continue to highlight the drawbacks of liberal democracy, liberal democracy is dangerous, Liberalism is suspected, attitudes to democracy and prudent. In the democratic position is weak, So Barber called the image of liberal democracy vulnerable democracy. In order to compensate and correct the defects and deficiencies of the weak democratic, Barber made a strong democratic theory. Strong democracy is essentially a participatory model of democracy. It advocates that citizen often effective self-participation, in order to achieve self-management and autonomy of the citizens. Increase participation of citizens in a participatory process, nurture citizenship and community. The mutual isolation of the private interests and public interests into interdependent, in order to resolve the conflict. Barber is not only strong democracy, a systematic theoretical construct, but also a systematic design. A strong democracy and enhancing the status of democracy, deepen the level of participation extends the scope of participation, Made an important contribution to promote the development of democracy. Strong democracy more in line with the trends of the development of democracy, but strong democracy is not vulnerable democratic alternative, but does not change the premise of the representative form of government, Increase citizens’political participation and vulnerable democracy enhanced thickening.Strong democracy is to promote the development of democracy has a significant meaningful, the value of re-understanding of the connotation of democracy and participation of great inspiration. Strong democracy delects and deficiencies need to be objective and fair to look at a strong democracy.