middle class, middle stratum, middle rank, despite their imprecise and contested definitions, such terms identify social group occupying space between rich and poor, differences between those with and without property have been associated with social disorder and political instability since ancient greece, and, from that time to present, certain political thinkers have believed that middle element can provide balance...
conceptualized as either broad grouping whose interests function as 'common good' or as one that moves toward one pole or the other according to situations, 'middling condition' has been assumed important for sustaining order and stability, in quite different times, aristotle, madison, and dahl each constructed middle element political models, their thinking suggested no 'shining city on a hill', rather, each considered 'best' to be that which is practical, and, that which is practical arises from notion of equilibrium...
aristotle's "polity," madison's "repub1ic" and dahl's "polyarchy" are theoretical attempts to balance oligarchical and majoritarian principles, in each instance, mixed, representative goverment becomes mechanism through which balance can ostensibly be achieved, private property looms large in middle element theories, idea of property as enforceable claim made by person to some use or benefit of something, state creates and enforces exclusive rights to private property, thus, property as individual right, becomes person's individual's share in political power, result is "thin" (benjamin barber's term) democracy - limited participation, narrow political discourse, and social inequality... michael hoover -------------------------------------------------------------- Please Note: Due to Florida's very broad public records law, most written communications to or from College employees regarding College business are public records, available to the public and media upon request. Therefore, this e-mail communication may be subject to public disclosure.