[lbo-talk] Ralph loves the nice plutocrats

[Matthias Wasser]

> There are many examples in European history demonstrating that strong
> states
> were also the most democratic ones.  I really recommend Peter B. Evans,
> Dietrich Rueschemeyer & Theda Skocpol, eds., 1985, *Bringing the State Back
> In*, Cambridge UK: Cambridge University Press - it provides an excelent
> collection of case studies showing that point.  Another recommendation:
> Arendt
> Lijphart, 1999, *Patterns of Democracy: Government Forms & Performance in
> Thirty Six Countries*, New Haven: Yale University Press that that
> parliamentary democracies prevailing in Europe and majoritarian system
> prevaikling in English speaking countries.
>
> Of course it does not mean that a strong state is automatically democratic
> -
> but that it can guarantee a democracy under certain conditions, wheras a
> weak state will almost certainly become a tool of repression in the hands
> of
> the wealthy.
>
> Wojtek

Are you using "democracy" here in the sense that you personally defined it
upthread, or in the sense that most people use it?