Conclusion

Abstract

Despite the fact that democracies are accepted as superior over other forms of government, a widespread political malaise is discernable in Western societies. Today, citizens are increasingly disillusioned with politics. More specifically, Putnam et al. (2000) raise concerns about the erosion of popular confidence in the performance of representative institutions. According to Pitkin (2004: 335) government has become a new form of oligarchy that excludes ordinary people from public life. Therefore, it is not surprising that political disenchantment is prevalent. In light of the growing public dissatisfaction with the current system of representative democracy, demands for a more participatory approach are increasing. Giving people more voice is widely considered a promising remedy against the current crisis of democracy (Cain et al. 2003, Dalton et al. 2003). According to Cronin (1999), self-government is more than just electing representatives, as it should involve meaningful citizen participation. Morris (1999) even states that the fundamental paradigm that dominates our politics is the shift from representative to direct democracy. In line with the main arguments advanced by theorists of participatory democracy (Pateman 1970, Barber 2003), proponents of direct democracy tend to adhere to the view that participating in the decision-making process will restore the voting public’s faith in politics.