An Analysis Of Benjamin R.Barber's Strong Democracy Theory

Strong democracy is a unique type of mordern participation democracy. This theory criticises liberalism. Republicanism and pragmatism had a close impact on the constitution of Strong democracy theory. Strong democracy transforms the concept of individual in privacy into free citizen and converge partial private interest into public interest, so that confliction can be resolved.Strong democracy belongs to the concept of direct democracy and it can transfer the conflict and further to adjust the relation between individual and society. Strong democracy belongs to the concept of direct democracy. Citizenship and Participation is two essential elements in Strong democracy. The comparability between Radical and Strong democracy lies in that view of democracy as an aim and life style. The former emphasizes principle of democracy while the latter focuses on the practice of democracy and claims democratization in political affairs. Strong democracy has some characters of Deliberation democracy, the former is interested in the range of subject and affairs in participation and further into the theme of political socialization. While the latter commit itself to the way and method of participation concerning the idea of program and forum,etc.Consumerism and privatization has eroded sovereignty of a state and posed new barrier to democracy internationally. Intimidated and challenged by Neoliberalism and new communication technique in the setting of globalization, Strong democracy regarded Civil Society as the hope of cooperation and democracy. Strong democracy arosed many disputations on the philosophy of liberalism and some topics such as Neighbourhood democracy, civil participation. Strong democracy pointed out a direction of democracy cultivation rather than a designment.