{"product_id":"9780745610689","title":"The Elite Connection Problems and Potential of Western Democracy","description":"\u003ch1\u003eThe Elite Connection\u003c\/h1\u003e\u003ch2\u003eProblems and Potential of Western Democracy\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003ch3\u003eAmitai Etzioni\u003c\/h3\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e\u003cb\u003ePhilosophy \/ General\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cdiv\u003eDesigned as a textbook for courses in political theory, political sociology and comparative politics, and as a contribution in its own right, this book explores the role of elite relations as a key to understanding democracy.  \u003cp\u003eFollowing a critical review of the literature on classes, democracy and elites, the author argues that although Western democracy is not `governed by the people' and has not created equality, it is unique in that (more than any other regime) it has generated a relative separation of power holders, or a relative autonomy of elites and sub-elites in the control of resources. Developing this argument the author discloses strengths and weaknesses in democracy's infrastructure.\u003c\/p\u003e \u003cp\u003e\u003ci\u003eThe Elite Connection\u003c\/i\u003e contains a warning that a major danger to democracy stems from the tendency of elites to make incursions into the autonomy of other elites, and to develop excessively close dependency relations, either in subjugation of them, or in collusion with them, which result in threats to civil liberties and to the very foundations of democracy. It argues, however, that democracy has the built-in potential to counter its own subversions. Although it focuses on elites, the book has an egalitarian perspective: it concludes with the argument that the separation of elites makes possible struggles for greater equality. The still relatively independent elites of social movements have the potential of pushing democracy towards greater participation and equality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cdiv\u003e  Eva Etzioni-Halevy is the author of several previous books including \u003ci\u003eBureaucracy and Democracy\u003c\/i\u003e (Routledge and Kegan Paul, revised edition, 1985); \u003ci\u003eThe Knowledge Elite and the Failure of Prophecy\u003c\/i\u003e (George Allen \u0026amp; Unwin, 1985); and \u003ci\u003eFragile Democracy\u003c\/i\u003e (Transaction Publishers, 1989).\u003c\/div\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublication Date: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e02 March 1993\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePublisher: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePolity Press\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eImprint: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePolity\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eISBN-13: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e9780745610689\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eFormat: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePaperback \/ softback\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePage Count: \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e260\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWeight (oz): \u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e13.44\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e","brand":"Polity Press","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44380440658060,"sku":"9780745610689","price":27.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0710\/9545\/1788\/files\/9780745610689_2a083fb4-9de9-43e8-8f41-733c35ca65cf.jpg?v=1780139644","url":"https:\/\/fh90cf-fv.myshopify.com\/products\/9780745610689","provider":"Late Knight Books and Services, LLC","version":"1.0","type":"link"}