杰弗逊与麦迪逊——美国多数民主与多元民主理论的先驱

多数民主理论认为民主即是由人民的多数来制定政治的决策。多元民主理论则认为民主意味着由各利益集团在竞争中产生政治的决策。杰弗逊和麦迪逊分别是美国多数民主与多元民主理论的先驱。杰弗逊的民主理论建立在性善论和自然权利学说基础上,主张通过普选制的机制和教育、新闻出版自由等途径来使人民群众积极参与政治,来选举、监督和控制政府官员。而分寸、节制与平衡感则是麦迪逊思想的显著特色。他主张鼓励社会上各种利益集团之间的竞争和政治参与,来取得各派势力的均衡和社会的稳定。

Jefferson and Madison-forerunners of theories of U.S. majoritarian and pluralistic models of democracy

The theory of the majoritarian model of democracy holds that democracy means that the political decision should be made by the majority of the people,while the pluralistic model of democracy proposes that the political decision should be made from competitions among various interest groups.Jefferson and Madison were respectively the forerunners of the two kinds of theories mentioned above.Based upon the theory of the natural goodness of human nature and the natural rights theory,Jefferson intends to promote the people’s active political participation through the mechanism of universal franchises,public education and freedom press,enabling the people to elect and control public officials.As for Madison,moderation and balance permeated his thought.He endeavors to encourage competitions and political participation of various interest groups in order to achieve balance among them and stability of the society.