Includes bibliographical references and index.

Preliminary Material / Ronald M. Glassman -- Introduction: Capitalism, the Middle Classes and the Transition to Democracy / Ronald M. Glassman -- Prologue: An Ideal Type Definition of Democracy / Ronald M. Glassman -- Chapter I Aristotle’s Theory of the Middle Class and Democracy / Ronald M. Glassman -- Chapter II The Unique Link Between the Commercial Classes and Democracy: Ancient Greece in Weberian-Marxian Perspective / Ronald M. Glassman -- Chapter III The Link Between the Commercial Classes and Democracy in Post-Feudal Europe: From the Polis to the Nation State / Ronald M. Glassman -- Chapter IV Industrial-Capitalism and Democracy / Ronald M. Glassman -- Chapter V Industrial Capitalism and the Socialist Reaction / Ronald M. Glassman -- Chapter VI The Industrial-Capitalist World and the Fascist Convulsion / Ronald M. Glassman -- Chapter VII Industrialism and Communism: Marx Alters his Theory of the Progressive Stages of History / Ronald M. Glassman -- Chapter VIII Industrial-Capitalism and Legal-Representative Democracy Triumphant (1945–1965): The “Main Line” of History / Ronald M. Glassman -- Chapter IX High Technology Industrial Capitalism as a New Mode of Production / Ronald M. Glassman -- Chapter X The Class Structure Engendered by High Technology Industrial-Capitalism / Ronald M. Glassman -- Chapter XI Excursus on the Third World and its Class Balance / Ronald M. Glassman -- Epilogue: The Structural and Cultural Bases of Democracy / Ronald M. Glassman -- Notes / Ronald M. Glassman -- Bibliography / Ronald M. Glassman -- Index / Ronald M. Glassman.

One of the basic theories of politics, put forth by Aristotle centuries ago, is the theory of the middle class and its causal link with democracy. According to Aristotle, a large, prosperous middle class may mediate between rich and poor, creating the structural foundation upon which democratic political processes may operate. Beyond Aristotelian theory, the specifically commercial nature of the middle class is also made central, as the democratic institutions of law, power limitation, and electoral participation were carried by a commercial middle class. This volume traces the development of democracy and the rise of the commercial middle class from ancient Greece to Renaissance Italy, to post-feudal Europe. Socialism, communism and fascism are discussed as reactions to capitalist-democracy. The book concludes with an analysis of the structural and cultural bases of democracy.

English

Description based on print version record.