need be limited to ...

English translation: should only be...

13:11 Aug 30, 2013
English language (monolingual) [PRO]
Social Sciences - Social Science, Sociology, Ethics, etc. / term
English term or phrase: need be limited to ...
The whole paragraph like this:" If management of knowledge, distributed among a diverse population through the operation of participatory institutions, helped to promote high performance in the competitive world of classical Greece, there is less reason to assume that the role of the citizen in a modern democracy need be limited to occasionally choosing among competing elites on the basis of their party affiliation."

What does "need be limited to choosing" mean here?
macky
Local time: 06:12
Selected answer:should only be...
Explanation:
"should only be limited to choosing"

It's complicated because there are two negatives ("less" and "limited"), and also the form used ("need be limited" rather than "needs to be limited") is not obvious, but all it's saying is that the assumption that citizens in a modern democracy are only capable of choosing between candidates is probably not correct.
Selected response from:

JaneD
Sweden
Local time: 23:12
Grading comment
Thank you for help!
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer



SUMMARY OF ALL EXPLANATIONS PROVIDED
5 +5should only be...
JaneD
4 +1must, of necessity, be restricted to
B D Finch
5 -1Should only be allowed
Lincoln Hui
4has to be (or must be) limited to
Ellen Kraus


  

Answers


32 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): +5
should only be...


Explanation:
"should only be limited to choosing"

It's complicated because there are two negatives ("less" and "limited"), and also the form used ("need be limited" rather than "needs to be limited") is not obvious, but all it's saying is that the assumption that citizens in a modern democracy are only capable of choosing between candidates is probably not correct.

JaneD
Sweden
Local time: 23:12
Native speaker of: Native in EnglishEnglish
PRO pts in category: 4
Grading comment
Thank you for help!

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Tina Vonhof (X)
57 mins
  -> Thanks Tina

agree  Victoria Britten
2 hrs
  -> Thanks Victoria

agree  Thayenga: Enjoy your weekend. :)
2 hrs
  -> Thanks - you too!

agree  Lisa Russell
9 hrs
  -> Thanks Lisa

agree  Anna Herbst: It is a subjunctive - to learn more, go to http://www.englishpage.com/minitutorials/subjunctive.html
19 hrs
  -> Thanks Anna
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33 mins   confidence: Answerer confidence 5/5 peer agreement (net): -1
Should only be allowed


Explanation:
need be: "should be". In this case we are talking about the fact that the citizens should be allowed to do more, i.e. their choices do not "need" to be limited.
limited to: only

Another way to write this would be

There is less reason to assume that the citizen in a modern democracy should only be allowed to occasionally choose among competing elites on the basis of their party affiliation [rather than being allowed to manage more knowledge].


Lincoln Hui
Hong Kong
Local time: 06:12
Native speaker of: Native in ChineseChinese, Native in EnglishEnglish

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
disagree  B D Finch: "Need be" is NOT synonymous with "should be"!// It is an inaccurate paraphrase, because you are introducing a value judgement by using "should", when the author is talking about what is possible or necessary.
48 mins
  -> I'm not talking about the definition, just an idea on how to interpret it. Did you read the entire sentence, and are you aware that I'm just paraphrasing here?
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1 hr   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5 peer agreement (net): +1
must, of necessity, be restricted to


Explanation:
" ... there is less reason to assume that the role of the citizen in a modern democracy need be limited to occasionally choosing among competing elites on the basis of their party affiliation."

The author is saying that the example of Ancient Greece suggests that participatory democracy might lead to higher performance (cultural? economic? philosophical?) if applied to modern society. However, s/he is saying this in a rather cumbersome and pompous way.

The example of Ancient Greece leads him/her to questioning the assumption that there is no other option ("that it need") for modern democracy but for it to be restricted ("limited") to voting for candidates put up by political parties, rather than being opened up to participation by citizens in their own government, which would both require and entail the spread of knowledge among the population.

Note the use of the subjunctive form "need".

B D Finch
France
Local time: 23:12
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: English
PRO pts in category: 12

Peer comments on this answer (and responses from the answerer)
agree  Daniel Weston
1 hr
  -> Thanks Daniel
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4 hrs   confidence: Answerer confidence 4/5Answerer confidence 4/5
has to be (or must be) limited to


Explanation:
I´d suggest

Ellen Kraus
Austria
Local time: 23:12
Specializes in field
Native speaker of: Native in GermanGerman
PRO pts in category: 4
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