Authority and Democracy: A General Theory of Government and Management

by Christopher McMahon

Overview

Should the democratic exercise of authority that we take for granted in the realm of government be extended to the managerial sphere? Exploring this question, Christopher McMahon develops a theory of government and management as two components of an integrated system of social authority that is essentially political in nature. He then considers where in this structure democratic decision making is appropriate. McMahon examines the main varieties of authority: the authority of experts, authority grounded in a promise to obey, and authority justified as facilitating mutually beneficial cooperation. He also discusses the phenomenon of managerial authority, the authority that guides nongovernmental organization, and argues that managerial authority is best regarded not as the authority of a principal over an agent, but rather as authority that facilitates mutually beneficial cooperation among employees with different moral aims. Viewed in this way, there is a presumption that managerial authority should be democratically exercised by employees.

Originally published in 1994.

The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780691603216
Publisher:	Princeton University Press
Publication date:	03/21/2017
Series:	Studies in Moral, Political, and Legal Philosophy , #5218
Pages:	324
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.20(h) x 0.80(d)

Table of Contents

Preface

1 Introduction

Pt. I Authority in General and in Government

2 Authority

3 Moral Principles and Social Facts

4 The Justification of Authority

5 Democracy

Pt. II Managerial Authority

6 Management and Morality

7 Managerial Authority as P-Authority

8 Managerial Authority as C-Authority

9 Managerial Democracy

Works Cited

Index

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

"An exemplary contribution to both the fields of business ethics and political philosophy. It is highly original, while at the same time masterfully synthesizing the best work in a number of disciplines."—Allen Buchanan, University of Arizona

Editorial Reviews

"[This] book sets out on a journey to determine the appropriate exercise of democratic authority in government in the private sector. While the journey is challenging, the book reaches the destination."—-Jack H. Knott, Political Science Quarterly

From the Publisher

"Authority and Democracy is a tightly argued book. McMahon seeks to differentiate among three types of authority in private and public organizations: authority based on expertise, authority derived from promises, and authority developed as a result of engaging in a cooperative enterprise. . . . this book draws important linkages among the writings on democracy, management theory, and employee self-ownership."

Choice