A demokratikus elitizmus konszenzusán túl
Beyond the happy consensus of democratic elitism

Summary/Abstract: The democratic elitism of the last five decades is often regarded as a happy alliance of Schumpeter's elitism and D ahl's concept of polyarchy. This concept of democracy ensures (i) a competitive method of leadership selection and (ii) the rule by the people at the same time. (iii) Friedrich's rule of anticipated reactions of voters enforces that governments are to be representative in the sense that they are acting in the interest of the people. Firstly, I would like to challenge the view that democratic elitism forms a coherent theory. Three distinct models of democratic control can be distinguished beyond the happy consensus of democratic elitism. The mandate view of elections enforces responsive public policy, the accountability view establishes responsible government, the personalist or charismatic view of elections limits democratic control to the selection of leaders. Secondly, I would like to reveal and analyse the sources of these divergent approaches behind the institutional consensus. The paper aims at exploring the relationship between anthropological and epistemological assumptions and the three distinct views on the nature of democratic control. Finally, I would like explore the question, whether and to which extent does the personalist view of democratic elections leans towards an authoritarian type of rule.

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