Revisiting The Concept of Representation

No Thumbnail Available
File version
Author(s)
Baker, Gideon
Griffith University Author(s)
Primary Supervisor
Other Supervisors
Editor(s)
Date
2006
Size
File type(s)
Location
License
Abstract

In Hannah Pitkin's influential book, The Concept of Representation (1967), the case is made that, despite its undoubted complexity, representation means something; that it is possible to establish when representation has taken place and, conversely, when it has not. Representation, as a central practice of modern politics, has objective content. Though it will often be imperfect, it is possible to be fairly and accurately represented politically. Yet it is argued here that such confidence in representation is less obviously convincing today, and for a particular reason. This is that, over the last thirty years, the subject of representation, which Pitkin more or less takes for granted, has itself become a site of controversy. The question that needs to be asked now is: how far do developments in the theory of the subject undermine faith in the possibility of representation?

Journal Title

Parliamentary Affairs

Conference Title
Book Title
Edition
Volume

59

Issue

1

Thesis Type
Degree Program
School
Patent number
Funder(s)
Grant identifier(s)
Rights Statement
Rights Statement
Item Access Status
Note
Access the data
Related item(s)
Subject

Political science

Persistent link to this record
Citation
Collections