Date: Tue, 5 Mar 1996 19:58:02 -0800
From: iwp.ilo-AT-ix.netcom.com (CEP )
Subject: Re: Questions About Radical Democracy II


    Leo, first fo all, thanks for your answers.  Some additional
    questions and comments:

>Leo:
. I don't think that the work is
>particularly radical, but it is certainly democratic, and addresses 
some
>important issues concerning African-American political representation 
in a
>racist society. David Plotke wrote one of the most interesting 
critiques of
>it in a recent issue of _Dissent_, and then he and she had a little 
debate.

    Carlos:

    I will be interested in knowing what PLotke's criticisms were.

    Leo:
>____
>The political project which seeks to extend democracy to and deepen it 
within
>all spheres of society. This project includes, but does not focus on 
in an
>exclusive fashion, the traditional socialist and communist emphasis on 
the
>labor movement; it would also incorporate other social movements of a
>democratic nature, such as feminism, anti-racism, etc.

    Carlos:

    Are you talking here about the formal representation of other       
    classes, such as the middle class, as represented by specific
    social movements? or is it ideological representation of issues,
    independent of classes?

    I raise these questions because you mention in your answer Labor,
    clearly class-identified and then mention "movements" which could
    be or not class identified ...

    Leo:

 It sees what is
>sometimes called formal democracy (majority rule; minority rights of 
free
>expression and conscience, due process, privacy and equality under the 
law;
>the rule of law) as a necessary, but not sufficient, condition for the
>achievement of radical democracy.

    Carlos:

    What should be added to this to be consistent with radical          
    democracy?

    Leo:

 It does not, therefore, envision a
>transparent society of complete direct democracy (ie, soviets, 
workers'
>councils, etc.), but a combination of institutions of representative 
and
>direct democracy.

    Carlos:

    Would you please give me some real or imaginary examples?


    Leo:

 While there are some basic principles held in common, the
>political currents and actors who describe themselves by the term are 
a
>fairly heterogeneous bunch.

    and further Leo comments:
-
>I would be reluctant to recommend any specific text, if only because I 
think
>that there is no definitive voice of radical democracy. For example, 
Stanley
>Aronowitz would consider himself  a radical democrat, and although I 
find
>some of his work very thought provoking, I -- and many other radical
>democrats -- would disagree with his analysis of the "end of the work.

    Carlos:
    These and several other statements you posted seems to indicate     
    that you feel radical democracy is a movement(?) or Ideology(?)     
    which is still in formation?

    Comradely,
    Carlos






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