此詞彙於1851年由法國哲學家奥古斯特·孔德(Auguste Comte)所創,[2] 原意近似社會學(sociology)一詞,係指研究人類如何組織成社會體系的一門科學。孔德相信由社會學家所領導的政府會透過科學方法滿足人民的需求,而不只是統治階層的需求。[3] 美國社會學家Lester Frank Ward(英语:Lester Frank Ward)在1881年刊登於《賓州月刊》的一篇論文中,全力贊成以全員參與制取代多數投票決所造成的政治紛爭。[4]
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