Democratic Elitism, the founding myth of American political science

Democratic Elitism: The Founding Myth of American Political Science argues that scholars have misinterpreted the Italians as conservative, antidemocratic figures who championed the equation of democracy with representative practices to restrain popular participation in politics.

Natasha Piano contends not only that the Italian School’s thought has been distorted but also that theorists have ignored its main objective: to contain demagogues and plutocrats who prey on the cynicism of the masses.

The Italian School’s original writings do not reject electoral politics; they emphasize the power and promise of democracy beyond the ballot.

Elections undoubtedly are an essential component of functioning democracies, but in order to preserve their legitimacy we must understand their true capacities and limitations.