The Madisonian Systems

Bibliographic Data

ID3299863
AuthorsJohn Zvesper (University of East Anglia, corresponding author)
Year1984
Volume37
Issue2
Pages236-256
Publication date1984-06-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Western Political Quarterly (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0043-4078 • E-ISSN: 2325-8675
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/106591298403700204
OpenAlexW2029442176
LanguageEN
Citations received15
References cited20

JAMES MADISON is widely although somewhat inaccurately known as the Father of the Constitution and the founder of pluralism in American political science. He is equally although less widely known as one of the founders of the American party system and an advocate of a more participatory and communitarian theory of politics. Both of these characterizations are well founded. The first is based largely on Madison's career up to 1789, particularly his collaboration with Alexander Hamilton and co-authorship of the Federalist Papers; these were the activities connected with what political scientists usually call the the theory of which is best known from Federalist 10. The second derives from Madison's conduct in the 1790s and his writings for the Republican press, activities which helped to establish a very different political system. The party system is a second Madisonian system, which contradicts the first in both theory and practice. The pluralism of Madison the Federalist favored the multiplication of social and economic interests, in order to facilitate competent governmental control and direction of these interests. The party system of Madison the Republican displayed more confidence in the political competence of citizens outside government, and favored the consolidation of social interests and affections to control and direct government. Such consolidation is one of the characteristic purposes of modern political parties, and Madison, one of the leaders of the first such party, clearly understood this (Writings 6:67-69; Riemer 1954aand 1954b: 37; Zvesper 1977: 110-19;Jaenicke 1980). The case for pluralism was a case for a system of groups in which (as Federalist 10 presupposes) there are no overarching parties, or in which any overarching parties are ideologically promiscuous instruments of consensus. The case for a party system was primarily a case for strong party government, with party (the singular is more appropriate) as a participatory instrument of democratic choice. Both of the major schools of modern democratic theory both pluralist and participatory democrats are legitimate heirs of Madison. Both of the major American political parties can trace their origins to Madison. Madison can be admired for his inventiveness. But what are we to

Business · Political science · American Constitutional Law and Politics · Computer Science · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Political Theory and Influence

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub