Varieties of Democracy

Abstract

We have seen that democracy is a form of government in which public policy depends in a systematic, if sometimes indirect, way upon public opinion. However, subject to this criterion, there are various forms that democratic governments can take. Indeed, looking at the literature on democracy, it is clear that it reflects this diversity with classifications, categories and typologies in abundance. We read of pluralist democracy, radical democracy, liberal democracy, socialist democracy, one-party democracy, deliberative democracy, polyarchy, elitist democracy, equilibrium democracy and so on. (For examples of such typologies, see Held, 1996; and Macpherson, 1977.)