Representative government as the best form of government in J. S. Mill

Abstract

This paper deals with the coherence of the tripartite criterion that makes the representative government the best form of government in John Stuart Mill's political philosophy. The first part of the paper presents the tripartite criterion for distinguishing Mill's optimal form of government: progressiveness, utility - maximising rule and good institutions. The second and the third part of the paper examine some of the possible tensions between these three elements, as well as certain problems that might arise in their practical application. Finally, this paper offers an interpretation that, by taking Mill's anthropology and psychology into account, aims (1) to resolve the internal tensions that might appear to exist between the three features of Mill's account of representative government and (2) to solve some of the more practical concerns related to their implementation.

Ovaj se rad bavi usklađenošću kriterijuma koji čine predstavničku vladu najpoželjnijim oblikom vladavine u političkoj filozofiji Džona Stjuarta Mila. U prvom delu rada predstavljene su tri osnovne odlike Milovog najboljeg oblika vladavine. Za Mila, to su: posvećenost napretku, vladavina u skladu sa korisnošću i dobro uređene ustanove. U drugom i trećem delu rada ispitane su napetosti između ova tri kriterijuma, kao i problemi koji mogu nastati njihovom praktičnom primenom. Predstavljeno je tumačenje koje, uzimajući u obzir Milovu antropološku i psihološku teoriju, nudi jedan od načina na koji se neke od napetosti između elemenata Milovog najboljeg oblika vladavine mogu prevazići.