The Logic Of The Elitist Democratic Theory

Whether democracy means the rule by the people or by the elite is a core debatein democratic theory. That is the elitist democratic theory triggering the argument.Before the elitist democratic theory, democracy just means the rule by the people. Inother words, the power to decide political issues is granted to all people, and election isa way of solving the size problem. The existence of delegates doesn’t change the factthat democracy is the rule by the people. However, the elitist democratic theory claimsunless using direct democracy, the rule by the people is impossible. Delegates meandemocracy is the rule by the elite. This article attempts to answer the questions aboutmain characters, necessity and democracy of the rule by the elite, in order to reveal thelogic of the elitist democratic theory.First of all, the rule by the elite means that the elitist is the subject of makingpolitical decisions, the decisions by the elitist are independent, and the elites’ existenceis prior to democracy. Firstly, there is inexistence of the common good which is agreedby all people, accordingly there is inexistence of the will of people. Democracy is therule by the elite. There exists a division, the duty to the mass is to elect the elites, andthe duty to the elite is to make decisions. Secondly, the mass can not effect the decisionsmaking by the elite. The true aim of elites is to win the most votes for their own benefits,even violate the will of the mass. In addition, elites make an alliance, which dominatesthe society. Thirdly, the mass just select the delegates from the elite. Because of thedichotomy of the elite and the mass, nobody can deny the fact that the society is ruledby the elite. It is impossible for the mass entering the electoral process.Second the rule by the elite is inevitable. The first reason is the limited rationalityof the mass. On the one hand, people will show irrationality when people are in thecrowd. On the other hand, the will of the mass always be shaped by the elite. Thesecond reason is that organization means the rule of oligarchy. In order to take collectiveactions, the mass need to select delegates. And with the enlargement of theorganization, the power of the elite is gradually expanding, developing the tendency ofoligarchy. In addition, the alienated organizations change to the aim of the action. The final reason is that modern politics is becoming a specialized profession. Because of themass lacking the professional knowledge of the politics, the politics decide just by theelite.Third is the democratic nature of the rule by the elite. The rule by the elite adaptsto the democracy. First of all, everyone has the equal opportunity to being the elite.Second there exist competitions between elites. On the one hand, the competitiveelections form the restrains between the parliament and bureaucracy. And the politicianscan confine the bureaucrats. On the other hand, a large number of interest groupsdevelop the tendency of competitive equilibrium. At last, the elite should takeresponsibilities to the mass. In the political input, with the openness and competition themass realize the control of the elite. In the political output, the elite are enslaved to themass.