Social structures of direct democracy : on the political economy of equality / by John Asimakopoulos.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Asimakopoulos, John, author.

Series:

Studies in critical social sciences ; Volume 68.

Studies in Critical Social Sciences, 1573-4234 ; Volume 68

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Direct democracy.

Equality.

Social structure.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (229 p.)

Place of Publication:

Leiden, Netherlands : Brill, 2014.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

Neoliberalism has pushed capitalism to its limits, hollowing out global economies and lives in the process, while people have no voice. John Asimakopoulos addresses the problem with a theory to practice model that reconciles Marxism, with its diverse radical currents, and democratic theory. Social Structures of Direct Democracy develops a political economy of structural equality in large-scale society making strong empirical arguments for radical transformation. Key concepts include filling positions of political and economic authority (e.g., legislatures and corporate boards) with randomly selected citizens leaving the demos as the executive. Asimakopoulos shows that an egalitarian society leads to greater innovation, sustainable economic growth, and positive social benefits in contrast to economies based on individualism, competition, and inequality.

Contents:

Preliminary Material

Introduction

Theory, Praxis, and Change

Relations of Authority

Material Relations

Social Structure

Conclusion: No Islands of Egalitarianism in a Sea of Inequality

Afterword: What Can Grow in the Graveyard for Orthodoxies? / Richard Gilman-Opalsky

Bibliography

Index.

Notes:

Description based upon print version of record.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Description based on print version record.

ISBN:

90-04-26275-X

OCLC:

887823165

Publisher Number:

10.1163/9789004262751 DOI