Participation and democracy for 19th century liberals

Abstract

This is a survey on the issue of democracy for the theorists of nineteenth century liberalism. Addresses the multitude of formulations of liberalism’s historical influences that have marked the development of some of these theories and developed the theoretical foundations of democracy and representation. The idea that the current century liberalism is elitist or aristocratic can be justified by the efforts made by its thinkers to limit the power of mass, questioning the ability or preparedness of the people to govern and in attempts to safeguard the rights of minorities.