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Single Idea 24414

[catalogued under 24. Political Theory / D. Ideologies / 5. Democracy / a. Nature of democracy]

Full Idea

There is only one form of political community which offers any hope of resolving the conflict between authority and autonomy, and that is democracy. …It tries to extend the duty of autonomy to the realm of collective action.

Gist of Idea

Democracy is the only politics which might reconcile authority and autonomy

Source

Robert Paul Wolff (In Defence of Anarchism [1970], 2.1)

A Reaction

He is not including anarchism, which presumably demolishes the authority (just as totalitarians demolish the autonomy). He goes on to explore the democratic approach, and eventually rejects it.

Book Reference

Wolff,Robert Paul: 'In Defence of Anarchism' [Harper Torchbooks 1976], p.21