The Transformation of DemocracyTransaction Publishers, 1984 M01 1 - 93 pages Combining a thorough introduction to the work of nineteenth- and early twentieth-century Italian social theorist Vilfredo Pareto with a highly readable English translation of Pareto's last monograph "Generalizations", originally published in 1920, this work illustrates how and why democratic forms of government undergo decay and are eventually reinvigorated. More than any other social scientist of his generation, Pareto offers a well-developed, articulate, and compelling theory of change based on a Newtonian vision of science and an engineering model of social equilibrium.This dynamics involves a shifting balance among the countervailing forces of centralization and decentralization of power, economic expansion and contraction, and liberalism versus traditionalism in public sentiment. By 1920, Pareto had developed a scheme for predicting shifts in magnitude of these forces and subsequent change in the character of society. This book will be of interest to students, teachers, or general readersinterested,in political science, sociology and late-nineteenth/ early-twentieth century social theory. |
Contents
Generalizations | 23 |
The Crumbling of Central Authority | 35 |
The Plutocratic Cycle | 53 |
Sentiments | 61 |
Appendix | 71 |
Epilogue | 85 |
Index | 87 |
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Common terms and phrases
action adversaries aggregate patterns Agostino Lanzillo analogous analysis assess Beatrice Webb behavior believe bourgeoisie capital capitalists central authority central government central power centrifugal forces century common conflict consequences cyclical change daylight savings decentralization decline demagogic plutocracy derivations developed dominant dynamics economic elite Empire England equilibrium experimental factories facts faith feudal feudal relations follow forecast France Genoa Giolitti grow Honorable House of Savoy ideology important Italian Italy king labor manifestations Mazzoni metaphysical Middle Ages military plutocracy Norberto Bobbio observed opposite origins oscillation Pareto began Parliament parliamentary period phenomena plutocratic Plutocratic Cycle Political Economy position production progressive taxes prosperity reason Red Guards residues Roman rule Sant'Agata scientific sentiments and interests social control social sciences socialists Sociology speculators strike taxes theory of society Trade Union Transformation of Democracy translation trends Vilfredo Pareto wage earners wealth well-to-do workers World