A Critique of the "Antidemocratic Tendency" Argument
The Case of Mass Organizations and Popular Participation in Nicaragua
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 4500909 |
|---|---|
| Authors | William I Robinson, Kent Norsworthy (0000-0002-2951-3665) |
| Year | 1988 |
| Volume | 15 |
| Issue | 1 |
| Pages | 134-141 |
| Publication date | 1988-01-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Latin American Perspectives (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 0094-582X • E-ISSN: 1552-678X |
| Publisher | SAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER) |
| DOI | 10.1177/0094582x8801500108 |
| OpenAlex | W1964457160 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 4 |
| References cited | 2 |
As revolutionary movements advance in Latin America and worldwide, both in countries where revolutionary forces have seized state power and in those where they are bidding for it, the theme of democracy has become increasingly central in discussion and analysis of these processes. In this context, what we refer to as the antidemocratic argument is taking shape. ' According to this view, democracy is the historic Achilles's heel of revolutionary practice. And in the argument's construct, authoritarianism is counterposed to repression practiced by revolutionary forces is seen as inherently antidemocratic, the concepts of the vanguard and democratic centralism are viewed with suspicion as tending to sacrifice democracy, even if they are accepted as historically necessary. In this article, we will take issue with the application of the antidemocratic argument to the concrete case of the Nicaraguan revolution. Different approaches have been taken regarding the supposed evolution of this tendency since the 1979 triumph; here we will focus on the evolution of the mass organizations. The formation of the mass organizations and the sudden and dramatic participation of the Nicaraguan people in their vital affairs through these organizations following the triumph was seen by many as one of the most exciting and
Argument (complex analysis) · Biology · Economics · Epistemology · Law and economics · Political science · Positive economics · Sociology · Philosophy · Political theory and Gramsci · Religion and Society in Latin America
| Unique citing works | 4 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,12 |
| Citation span | 1992 - 1997 (6) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 3 |