Participation and Democratic Theory

Carole Pateman's Participation and Democratic Theory (1970) critiques democratic theorists like Robert Dahl and Giovanni Sartori for justifying elite rule based on public apathy. Pateman argues this creates a "democratic deficit" because it ignores how lack of participation hinders civic capacity. She advocates for a more participatory vision of democracy, where citizens are actively involved, rather than passively accepting elite decisions. This contrasts with theories that rely on representation, which Pateman suggests can undermine true democracy. Her work emphasizes that genuine democratic legitimacy requires opportunities for individual participation.1234