| ID | 141763 |
| Title Proper | Defending what from whom? debating citizen disengagement |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Forstenzer, Joshua |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | This article constitutes a pointed theoretical intervention in the debate opposing Richards and Smith to Flinders on the question of citizen disengagement. Its main contention is that Richards and Smith offer a straw-man argument against Flinders by identifying him with positions he does not hold. It thus shows that Richards and Smith falsely identify Flinders with the following positions: (a) there is no need for a major overhaul in the UK's existing democratic and governance arrangements; (b) the problem of citizen disengagement is caused by the public's insatiable demand for democratic participation; and (c) the problem with British politics is that there is too much democracy and accountability. Finally, the article closes by identifying points of genuine tension between the Richards/Smith position and that defended by Flinders. |
| `In' analytical Note | Political Quarterly Vol. 86, No.4; Oct/Dec 2015: p.550–554 |
| Journal Source | Political Quarterly 2015-12 86, 4 |
| Key Words | Democracy ; Flinders ; Richards and Smith ; Citizen Disengagement ; Supply/Demand Dichotomy |