寻求民主发展与公民参与的统一——一种参与式民主的进路

Approach to the Coordination of the Development of Democracy and Civic Participation——The Route of Participatory Democracy

寻求民主发展和公民参与的统一是现代民主理论必须面对的一个重大问题。在当代西方精英主义民主理论中,更多强调的是公民参与和民主发展的矛盾和对立。而参与式民主理论从个体、共同体、国家三个层面对民主的内涵进行了重构,突出了公民参与的教育、整合和制约功能。通过在地方事务、社会团体和公共领域中的公民积极参与,从而实现民主发展和公民参与的统一。本文描述了这种参与式民主的进路,为中国民主的发展提供另一个可资借鉴的视域。

Approach to the coordination of the development of democracy and citizen participation is a major problem the theory of modern democracy must face. In the elitism in the contemporary western democratic theory, more emphasis is laid on the conflict and confrontation of citizen participation and democratic development. The participation - in theory system reconstruct the connotation of democracy in the individual, community and national perspectives, highlighting the educational, check and balance and conforming function. This paper points out, through the active citizen participation in the local affairs, social organizations and the public field, China can be provided with yet another new sight to approach the coordination development of democracy and citizen participations.