Abstract
Normative theories on democracy differ in their view on the role of citizen participation. Whereas in the model of representative democracy, the role of citizen participation is mainly voting; in the models of associative democracy, deliberative democracy, and participatory democracy, other aspects of citizen participation are emphasized. This article investigates the extent to which the theoretical debate on democracy is reflected in the public debate on democracy and in democratic practices. It does so for the Dutch case. The analysis shows that the representative model dominates the Dutch debate on democracy among opinion makers and political parties. As far as elements of other models are mentioned, there appears to be a connection with the (ideological) background of the defenders of that perspective: the associative concept of democracy is mainly debated among Christian Democrats, the participatory model among parties from the Left, and the deliberative model among academics. Although the representative model is dominant in the public debate on democracy, the article also shows examples of local democratic practices in which elements of different models of democracy appear to be present.
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Notes
For a similar classification, see Engelen and Sie Dhian Ho (2004, 28–33).
CDA party manifesto, Chapter 2 (Vertrouwen in maatschappelijke organisaties), introduction, and Chapter 6 (Vertrouwen in een betrokken Nederland), introduction and the Sections 6.1.2 and 6.1.3.
CDA party manifesto 2006, Section 6.1.3.
A formateur leads the negotiations between the prospective governing parties (see Andeweg and Irwin, 1993, 109–114).
PvdA party manifesto 2006, Chapter 8 (Werken aan een bindend bestuur).
SP party manifesto 2006, Chapter 1 (Betere democratie).
VVD party manifesto 2006.
GroenLinks party manifesto 2006, Chapter 9 (Allemaal burgers).
ChristenUnie party manifesto 2006, Chapter 2 (Leven), Section 2.1.
D66 party manifesto 2006, Chapter ‘Mensen besturen zelf’.
Examples are: Waalwijk, Hilversum, Almere, Zwolle, Delft, and parts of Amsterdam.
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Michels, A. Debating Democracy: The Dutch Case. Acta Polit 43, 472–492 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.ap.5500205
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.ap.5500205