ABSTRACT
"Elitist theory of democracy" is employed in many contemporary books and articles on American politics and political behavior and is fast becoming part of the conventional wisdom of political science. The adequacy of the elitist theory of democracy has a few major shortcomings and this chapter discusses each of these. The elitist theory of democracy looks for the principal source of innovation in the competition among rival leaders and the clever maneuvering of political entrepreneurs, which is the most distinctive aspect of a democratic system. The elitist theory allows the citizen only a passive role as an object of political activity; he exerts influence on policy making only by rendering judgments after the fact in national elections. The safety of contemporary democracy lies in the high-minded sense of responsibility of its leaders, the only elements of society who are actively striving to discover and implement the common good.
