Showing papers by "Keith E. Whittington published in 1998"
TL;DR: A reconsideration of Tocqueville's analysis, and more important, of his American case, suggests that an active civil society is not an unalloyed good for democratic politics.
Abstract: The concept of social capital has revitalized the study of civil society. Alexis de Tocqueville's examination of 19th-century America is a major source of inspiration for much of this work. Tocqueville's analysis has been used to help support the idea that a strong civil society is crucial to democratic success. A reconsideration of Tocqueville's analysis, and, more important, of his American case, however, suggests that an active civil society is not an unalloyed good for democratic politics. A strong society can be not only a support but also a threat to democracy and liberal democratic ideals. One's evaluation of the health of democratic polities must depend on a study of the effects of political institutions and constitutional structures, as well as of civil society.
45 citations
Posted Content•
TL;DR: The authors examines the causes and dimensions of early twentieth century centralization in changing beliefs about government administration, the political response to economic consolidation, and perceptions of the moral value and political efficacy of local government.
Abstract: The constitutional concept of federalism has often been tied to nineteenth century judicial doctrine. When those doctrines were abandoned by the Roosevelt Court, federalism effectively lost constitutional meaning. Theories of federalism focusing on questions of constitutional authority were replaced with theories of intergovernmental relations focusing on the pragmatic administration of public policy. This paper illuminates our understanding of the "political constitution" through a reconsideration of twentieth century changes in federalism. At both a descriptive and a normative level, the overall structure of federalism responds to broad social and ideological forces. Centralizing and decentralizing political practices are structured and constrained by such forces. The paper examines the causes and dimensions of early twentieth century centralization in changing beliefs about government administration, the political response to economic consolidation, and perceptions of the moral value and political efficacy of local government. The paper then examines recent changes in each of these variables and their likely importance for American federalism. Fundamental constitutional changes need not be linked to doctrinal changes or emerge from mobilized popular deliberation, but can be the gradual response to other social and political decisions.
9 citations
Journal Article•
TL;DR: The authors examines the causes and dimensions of early twentieth century centralization in changing beliefs about government administration, the political response to economic consolidation, and perceptions of the moral value and political efficacy of local government.
Abstract: The constitutional concept of federalism has often been tied to nineteenth century judicial doctrine. When those doctrines were abandoned by the Roosevelt Court, federalism effectively lost constitutional meaning. Theories of federalism focusing on questions of constitutional authority were replaced with theories of intergovernmental relations focusing on the pragmatic administration of public policy. This paper illuminates our understanding of the "political constitution" through a reconsideration of twentieth century changes in federalism. At both a descriptive and a normative level, the overall structure of federalism responds to broad social and ideological forces. Centralizing and decentralizing political practices are structured and constrained by such forces. The paper examines the causes and dimensions of early twentieth century centralization in changing beliefs about government administration, the political response to economic consolidation, and perceptions of the moral value and political efficacy of local government. The paper then examines recent changes in each of these variables and their likely importance for American federalism. Fundamental constitutional changes need not be linked to doctrinal changes or emerge from mobilized popular deliberation, but can be the gradual response to other social and political decisions.
6 citations