Democracy: The Rule of the 'Demos' - Who is That? The Inherent Contradictions of Modern 'Democratic' Mass Societies

Abstract

Real-existing democracies tend towards ethnocracies and closed-shop systems. Over-coming the crisis of democracy necessitates its transformation in a new 'commonwealth of persons'. This, in turn, requires the re-theorizing of political action, including of the role of political parties, and the reclaiming of citizenship based on responsibility.