The Idea of Democracy and Its Distortions: From Socrates to Cornel West

摘要: Democracy is a highly-cherished idea nowadays as it casts an aura of legitimacy and prestige on political systems, theories, ideologies. This why regimes, organizations, ideologies all types lay claim to being democratic or aiming serve its interests. To justify their claims aims, they define democracy in ways that suit interests fit purposes. Some examples: ideologues capitalism the free-market system endorse rule capital, hence liberal democracy; economists formulate so fits within conceptual framework discipline; Cornel West defines tragicomic concept suits his Christian vision. These attempts at making one's interests, purposes, views have distorted true practice meaning idea, subverted normative substance. Putting focus mainly examining West's Matters (Penguin Press, 2004) one latest misrepresentations distortions democracy, this essay argues we need revisit original (the "rule by people"), revive contention entails citizens' direct, deliberative, ongoing participation power politics. counter economists’ democracy’s gutting substance also vision it, retrieve authentic content puts forth positive for future.