Shows that current elitist theories are based on an inadequate understanding of the early writings of democratic theory and that much sociological evidence has been ignored.

‘This is a very important book … a lucid, intelligent and direct challenge to the presuppositions of most American and West European sociology and political science. All social science, implicitly or explicitly, in its choice of topic and its mode of treatment, bears on the kind of society that the social scientists consider possible. By accepting a caricatured ‘classical doctrine of democracy’ or otherwise ignoring the somewhat diverse reasoning of Rousseau, Mill, Marx, Cole and others most contemporary social science simply presumes the impossibility of any form of social organization based on genuine rule by the people. Pateman attempts to resurrect the arguments of the ‘classical’ theorists and to examine them in the light of empirical evidence on political socialization and workers’ self-management.’

Source: The Antioch Review

‘ … Pateman makes a valuable contribution to the discussion of citizen participation … with abundant and challenging interpretations.’

Source: Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science

‘ … Pateman’s little book succeeds admirably, for it is clearly written, it agrues a series of sensibl points, claims no more than the evidence will support, and leaves us with plenty of unsettled issues to think about …’

Source: The Times Literary Supplement