Was Tocqueville Wrong? Buzz as Charisma, Creativity, and Glamour; New Sources of Political Legitimacy Supplementing Voting, and Civic Participation
Can Tocqueville Karaoke? Global Contrasts of Citizen Participation, the Arts and Development
ISBN: 978-1-78190-736-8, eISBN: 978-1-78190-737-5
Publication date: 15 July 2014
Abstract
This chapter explores the idea that democratic political legitimacy can emerge by other means than voting or citizen participation. Beyond these conventional methods of building legitimacy, we contend that alternative modes are emerging all over the world. Among these emergent forms are a wide range of policies, from China’s economic growth to Bogotá’s use of pantomime street crossing guards, replacing corrupt traffic police. Matched to their context, these policies may enhance political legitimacy. Particularly in locations with weak traditions of citizen participation, exploring alternatives to classic Tocquevillian participation may have more impact. Examining some major successes can illuminate alternative dynamics. We thus feature some specific non-Tocquevillian policies to open consideration of options.
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Acknowledgements
Acknowledgment
Revised from presentations to European Conference on Political Research, Pisa, Italy, 6–8 September 2007 and International Social Survey Programme, Chicago, 2008.
Citation
Clark, T.N. and da Silva, F.C. (2014), "Was Tocqueville Wrong? Buzz as Charisma, Creativity, and Glamour; New Sources of Political Legitimacy Supplementing Voting, and Civic Participation", Can Tocqueville Karaoke? Global Contrasts of Citizen Participation, the Arts and Development (Research in Urban Policy, Vol. 11), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 157-173. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1479-352020140000011024
Publisher
:Emerald Group Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2014 Emerald Group Publishing Limited