西方精英民主理论的演变——熊彼特及其先导思想家

Evolvement of Western Elitist Democratic Theory——Schumpeter and His Precursors

当代西方民主的实践在很大程度上是按照精英民主的模式运行的,而熊彼特是西方精英民主理论的集大成者。熊彼特的民主思想受到其先导理论家的很大影响。只有把握了熊彼特与先导理论家的关系,才能理解精英民主理论的来龙去脉。帕累托、莫斯卡、米歇尔斯等早期精英理论家对民主制度的批评为熊彼特发展其精英民主理论提供了反面素材,而韦伯关于民主政治的论述则是熊彼特精英民主理论的正面来源。熊彼特对民主理论的最大贡献在于他对民主进行了重新定义,把政治精英和民主制度结合了起来,从而使西方民主理论走出了尴尬的境地。

In contemporary western world, the democratic practice is to a great extent running according to the model of elitist democracy. Joseph Schumpeter is the greatest contributor to western elitist democratic theory. Schumpeter＇s democratic thought is greatly influenced by his preceding theorists. So we can not understand the cause and effect of elitist democratic theory until we hold the relations between Schumpeter and his preceding theorists. Such preceding elitist theorists as Vilfredo Pareto, Gaetano Mosca and Robert Michels provided Schumpeter with inverse material through their criticism on democracy. And Marx Weber＇s comment on democracy was obverse source of Schumpeter＇s elitist democratic theory. Schumpeter＇s most contribution to democratic theory is his redefinition about democracy. He effectively combined political elitists with democracy so as to make western democratic theory out of the embarrassed condition.