James Madison and Federalist 10

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• James Madison and Federalist 10
• 1. Madison is motivated by a tension between
  liberty (for minorities) and democracy (for
  majorities).
• 2. He believes factions are sown in the hearts
  of men, and he considers two ways to eliminate
  factions
• a) Destroy liberty, but this cure is worse than
  the disease.
• b) Create uniformity, but this is impractical
  and unwise.
• 3. Thus, according to his argument, we must
  control rather than eliminate factions, and he
  argues that this is easily accomplished in terms
  of the minority faction through majority rule.
  (Is it?) Majority factions pose a more difficult
  threat, and he suggests two solutions. 
• a) Choose wise leaders, but he admits this may
  be unreliable.
• b) Here is the genius of the argument. Create a
  large republic, because as you "extend the
  sphere" you take in more interests (factions) and
  the odds that any one faction will form a
  majority is minimized. 
• 4. There are, of course, holes in the argument
  one might argue that the real problem lies in the
  centrifugal tendencies of a multitude of small
  groups and an inability to form a majority on
  anything. 
• 5. As political argumentation it is stunning. JM
  undercuts the argument of his adversaries which
  says smaller state governments closer to the
  people do a better job of preserving liberty than
  the large, centralized, far-removed national
  government. (This is neat, slick, and very
  sneaky.) 
• 6. The conclusion regarding Madison's viewpoint
  toward participatory democracy is inevitable he
  would shudder at the thought. "Pure democracy"
  can only occur in small groups -- the very
  settings where minority liberties are most
  vulnerable to majority factions.  
• 7. Madison's advice is straightforward create a
  large republic, and buffer the will of the people
  through republican leadership.  
• 10. Is it possible that the Founders were afraid
  of the democratic mass? 
• 11. What does this mean for the resolution of
  collective action problems?