Critically examine Macpherson's views on Democracy. (UPSC CSE Mains 2018 - Political Science and International Relations, Paper 1)
C. B. Macpherson has defined his work as an effort to find some "common ground between Mill''s and Marx''s concern for individual self-development" . Macpherson propounded four models of liberal democracy:-
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- Protective model:- It protected the people’s property and liberty from monarchical form of government. Locke and Bentham propounded the protective model.
- Developmental model:- Democracy is a mechanism for moral development of the people. It is a educational experience which was supported by Rousseau and Mill.
- Equilibrium model:- it believes that democracy is merely an electoral mechanism for choosing the government. The oppose the normative model of democracy based on ideals and values.
- Participative model:-Macpherson prefers the normative model of democracy propounded by Rousseau and Mill. But he is against the capitalist form of economy and participative model is the best model of democracy.
For Macpherson participative model is the best model of democracy. Macpherson says that protective model of democracy incorporates the capitalist mode of economy which goes against the democracy. Equilibrium model maintains status-quo and equate democracy from market principles which is wrong.
- He is known as critical liberal. He is a liberal yet critical of inegalitarian liberal societies. He is called as egalitarian thinker like John Rawls, Amartya Sen, Dowrkin. He is concerned with equity. Macpherson''s model is called as Egalitarian Model. C B Macpherson has given two requirements for the existence of a participatory democracy. First, there should be reduction in social and economic inequality. Second, people should see themselves and act as exerters and enjoyers of development instead of merely being consumers of government policies.
- Macpherson is critical of liberal democracy is found in practice. According to Macpherson the objective of the political system should be provide opportunities for creative freedom. It means freedom to do what one wants to do his views comes near to Amartya Sen''s view "Development as Freedom". He investigated the reality of the democracy found in western liberal societies. He came to the conclusion that there is no equitable distribution of power in these societies. Western liberal democracies are not egalitarian. It means they are also far from being perfect. They also need to be more egalitarian.
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