In criticism of democracy who said "Liberal or 'thin' democracy is contributing to growing cynicism about politics and the paralysis of public institutions" ?

Question

Accepted Answer

The correct option is 1:
Benjamin Barber is the political theorist known for coining and criticizing the concept of "thin democracy," which he contrasts with his ideal of "strong democracy." This quote is a central theme in his seminal 1984 book, *Strong Democracy: Participatory Politics for a New Age*. Barber argues that the liberal, representative democracy practiced in many Western nations is merely a "thin" or minimal version that focuses too much on individual rights, markets, and voting rather than meaningful civic participation and self-governance. He contends that this minimal engagement breeds alienation and cynicism among citizens, leading to the "paralysis of public institutions" because the public feels detached from the processes supposedly governing them. Therefore, his critique explicitly targets "thin democracy" as the source of growing political malaise.

The incorrect option is 2:
C. Wright Mills (1916–1962) was a prominent American sociologist best known for his critiques of American society, particularly his analysis of power structures in *The Power Elite* (1956). Mills's criticism focused on the concentration of power among economic, political, and military leaders, arguing that this elite dominance subverted true democracy. While his work certainly expressed cynicism about politics, his main critique was rooted in class and elite theory, not the specific terminology and conceptual framework of "liberal or 'thin' democracy" versus "strong democracy," which belongs to Barber.

The incorrect option is 3:
Bernard Crick (1929–2008) was a British political theorist famous for *In Defence of Politics* (1962). Crick’s primary objective was to defend politics itself as a necessary activity of reconciliation and compromise against ideological extremes and anti-political forces. His work focused on defining politics as a practical activity that avoids violence, arguing for its importance rather than criticizing a specific form like "thin democracy" for creating cynicism and paralysis. His focus was on the nature of political activity itself.

The incorrect option is 4:
J. J. Rousseau (1712–1778) was an 18th-century Genevan philosopher, whose work profoundly influenced modern political thought through concepts like the general will and popular sovereignty, notably in *The Social Contract*. Rousseau was highly skeptical of representative government and even democracy as a form of government, preferring a republican structure where the people directly exercise sovereignty. While he criticized systems that allowed private interests to corrupt public affairs, his critique is rooted in classical republican theory, predating and differing conceptually from the modern, late-20th-century critique of "thin democracy" articulated by Barber.