Groups, representation and democracy : between promise and practice / Darren Halpin.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Halpin, Darren, author.

Series:

Perspectives on democratic practice (Manchester, England)

Perspectives on democratic practice

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Associations, institutions, etc.

Social groups--Political aspects.

Social groups.

Social participation.

Representative government and representation.

Democracy.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (xiv, 310 pages) : digital, PDF file(s).

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

Manchester : Manchester University Press, 2010.

Language Note:

In English.

Summary:

Whether called pressure groups, NGOs, social movement organisations or organised civil society, the value of 'groups' to the policy process, to economic growth, to governance, to political representation and to democracy has always been contested. However, there seems to be a contemporary resurgence in this debate, largely centred on their democratising potential: can groups effectively link citizens to political institutions and policy processes? Are groups an antidote to emerging democratic deficits? Or do they themselves face challenges in demonstrating their legitimacy and representativeness? This book debates the democratic potential and practice of groups, focusing on the vibrancy of internal democracies, and modes of accountability with those who join such groups and to the constituencies they advocate for. It draws on literatures covering national, European and global levels, and presents empirical material from the UK and Australia.

Contents:

Groups as agents of democracy?

Interest group aliases: towards definitional commensurability?

Democratic expectations: the representation account

Between representation and solidarity: (re)calibrating democratic expectations

Democratic promises and practices: some empirical evidence

The orthodox case: the drift from representation towards solidarity

Making Olson work: rejuventating 'supply-side' explanations

Are 'protest businesses' contemporary phenomena?

Democratic transformation: fulfilling the promise of representation

Between promise and practice.

Notes:

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 24 Apr 2026).

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN:

9781781701690

1781701695

9781847793027

1847793029

OCLC:

818847337