Aristotle, Madison, Dahl (long)

[Brad De Long]

>
>Aristotle, James Madison, and Robert Dahl each construct "middle element"
>political models where what is best is that which is practical.  And, that
>which is practical arises from a notion of equilibrium.  Aristotle's "polity,"
>"Madison's "repub1ic" and Dahl's "polyarchy" are attempts to balance
>oligarchical and majoritarian principles.  In each instance, mixed,
>representative goverment becomes the mechanism through which this balance
>might be achieved.

Nicely put. Though I would quibble with the application of 
"representative government" to Aristotle's ideal...

Brad DeLong