C.B. Macpherson’s Developmental Democracy: A Critique of Liberalism and Capitalist Constraints Introduction C.B. Macpherson (1911–1987), a Canadian political theorist, is best known for his influential critique of liberal-democratic theory within the context of capitalist societies. His landmark work, The Life and Times of Liberal Democracy (1977), interrogates the foundational assumptions of liberalism and contrasts what … Continue reading Analyze C.B. Macpherson’s conception of democracy as “developmental” rather than merely “protective,” and examine its critique of liberal-democratic theory in the context of capitalist societies.
Tag: C.B. Macpherson developmental democracy
Assess the concept of substantive democracy and its focus on equality, rights, and participatory governance beyond formal electoral processes.
Substantive Democracy: Beyond the Formalities of Electoralism Introduction Democracy, at its core, is a system of governance premised on popular sovereignty, political equality, and accountability. However, political theorists have long distinguished between formal (or procedural) democracy—which emphasizes electoral mechanisms—and substantive democracy, which goes beyond the rituals of voting to encompass equality, rights, social justice, and … Continue reading Assess the concept of substantive democracy and its focus on equality, rights, and participatory governance beyond formal electoral processes.