Includes bibliographical references and index.

1. Man and Society in an Age of Deconstruction -- 2. Capitalism and Legitimacy -- 3.Legitimacy and Capitalism -- 4. Sovereignty and Legitimacy -- 5 .Capitalism and Democracy -- 6. What the People Do for Capitalism -- 7. Property, Capital and Society -- 8. Public Capital and its Cooptation -- 9.The Public Debt: We Win, You Lose -- 10. Privatization: Hypocrisy Triumphant -- 11. Free Trade: the Supreme Illusion -- 12. Legitimation Crisis? -- Bibliography & References -- Author Index -- Subject Index.

This text discusses the central role of bureaucratic representation as a key vehicle for representing the general interests of most citizens in a way that is consistently superior to electoral systems in representative democracies, particularly large states. Though formal elections remain indispensable, bureaucracies in the capital, public and social sectors, have used their superior expertise and continuity, combined with social policies like affirmative action and equal pay, to achieve responsible discretion and creative implementation.

Description based on print version record.