scholarly journals The “populist” foundation of liberal democracy: Jan-Werner Müller, Chantal Mouffe, and post-foundationalism

2022 ◽  
pp. 019145372110668
Author(s):  
Lasse Thomassen
Keyword(s):  
Liberal Democracy ◽  
Constitutional Order ◽  
Liberal Democratic ◽  
Chantal Mouffe ◽  
The People ◽  
Agonistic Democracy ◽  
Ultimate Foundation ◽  
The Way

This article examines the connection between populism and post-foundationalism in the context of contemporary debates about populism as a strategy for the Left. I argue that there is something “populist” about every constitutional order, including liberal democratic ones. I argue so drawing on Chantal Mouffe’s theories of hegemony, agonistic democracy, and left populism. Populism is the quintessential form of post-foundational politics because, rightly understood, populism constructs the object it claims to represent, namely the people. As such, it expresses the fact that, because there is no ultimate foundation, politics consists in the construction of contingent foundations. I develop this argument through readings of Jan-Werner Müller and Chantal Mouffe, showing the differences between their respective post-foundational approaches. I show that Müller cannot uphold the distinction between populism and democracy in the way he seeks to do, but I also argue that this does not mean that we must jettison all normativity, only that it requires that we rethink normativity in hegemonic terms.

Populism and the Politics of Rights: The Dual Attack on Representative Democracy

1998 ◽  
Vol 31 (4) ◽  
pp. 683-705 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rainer Knopff
Keyword(s):  
Liberal Democracy ◽  
Public Life ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Representative Democracy ◽  
Representative Government ◽  
Checks And Balances ◽  
New Science ◽  
Liberal Democratic ◽  
The People ◽  
The Cost

AbstractIn Canada as elsewhere, representative democracy is under attack by both populists and rights advocates. The populist challenge comes mainly from Preston Manning's wing of the Reform party. The rights-based challenge is grounded on the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. These two challenges are different in obvious ways, but from the point of view of representative government—and ultimately of liberal democratic constitutionalism—what they have in common outweighs their differences. What they have in common is the appeal to a mystical being or icon beyond ordinary politics. In effect, the People or Rights become what God was to pre-liberal theocratic politics: a transpolitical trump on ordinary political division, a way of placing opponents “beyond the pale,” a demand for unattainable purity in public life and policy. While bills of rights and populism appear to flow, respectively, from the liberalism and the democracy of liberal democracy, they are, in fact, vehicles for precisely the kind of politics liberal democracy was designed to overcome. Representative government, not populism or entrenched rights, was at the heart of the “new science of politics” designed to make liberal democracy possible. Representative institutions, properly arranged in a system of checks and balances, were a way of blending liberalism with democracy, giving each its due, but indirectly, so that neither would be taken to self-destructive extremes. Populism and the judicialized politics of rights threaten to dissolve this salutary blend, at the cost of liberal democratic constitutionalism.

Liberal Democracy and the Problem of Patriarchy

2013 ◽  
Vol 46 (2) ◽  
pp. 169-191 ◽  
Author(s):  
David AJ Richards
Keyword(s):  
United States ◽  
Liberal Democracy ◽  
The United States ◽  
Historical Understanding ◽  
Right To Privacy ◽  
Constitutional Protection ◽  
Liberal Democratic ◽  
Liberal Constitutionalism ◽  
Constitutional Right ◽  
The Way

This article addresses how and why liberal democratic constitutions, such as the United States, have come to recognise the tension between liberal values of equal liberty and patriarchy in three areas – contraception, abortion, and gay/lesbian sex acts – and to resolve them in the way in which they have: by extending constitutional protection to these activities on the basis of a constitutional right to privacy. The article begins with some historical understanding of the background of the rise of patriarchy, and why the control of sexuality in general, and women's sexuality in particular, was so central to its aims. It then turns to how and why liberal constitutionalism has found these aims to be so problematic as a basis for law.

A Confucian Constitutional Order

2012 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiang Qing
Keyword(s):  
Liberal Democracy ◽  
Political Legitimacy ◽  
Status Quo ◽  
The State ◽  
Unique Form ◽  
Constitutional Order ◽  
The People ◽  
Form Of Government ◽  
The Status ◽  
Political Ideal

As China continues to transform itself, many assume that the nation will eventually move beyond communism and adopt a Western-style democracy. But could China develop a unique form of government based on its own distinct traditions? This book says yes. It sets out a vision for a Confucian constitutional order that offers a compelling alternative to both the status quo in China and to a Western-style liberal democracy. It is the most detailed and systematic work on Confucian constitutionalism to date. The book argues against the democratic view that the consent of the people is the main source of political legitimacy. Instead, it presents a comprehensive way to achieve humane authority based on three sources of political legitimacy, and it derives and defends a proposal for a tricameral legislature that would best represent the Confucian political ideal. The book also puts forward proposals for an institution that would curb the power of parliamentarians and for a symbolic monarch who would embody the historical and transgenerational identity of the state. In the latter section of the book, four leading liberal and socialist Chinese critics critically evaluate the book's theories and the author gives detailed responses to their views. The book provides a new standard for evaluating political progress in China and enriches the dialogue of possibilities available to this rapidly evolving nation.

The Classical Marxist Conception of Liberal Democracy

1971 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 360-376 ◽  
Author(s):  
William R. Schonfeld
Keyword(s):  
Political Institutions ◽  
Liberal Democracy ◽  
Major Theme ◽  
Liberal Democratic ◽  
The People ◽  
Late Eighteenth ◽  
The Future ◽  
Eighteenth And Nineteenth Centuries ◽  
Marxist Conception

During the late eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, Europe witnessed the development and spread of major innovations in the structures and practices of politics which were to reach their fruition during the l900's. It was a revolutionary epoch whose major theme was increased participation by the people in governing themselves: the traditional aristocratic authoritarianism was in the process of fighting and losing its last battles, while liberal democratic political institutions seemed to be riding the crest of the wave of the future.

scholarly journals Populism, liberal democracy and the ethics of peoplehood

2016 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 330-348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Wolkenstein
Keyword(s):  
Liberal Democracy ◽  
Point Of View ◽  
Political Actors ◽  
Liberal Democratic ◽  
The People ◽  
Political Justification ◽  
Normative Standards ◽  
Democratic Principles

Populism is widely thought to be in tension with liberal democracy. This article clarifies what exactly is problematic about populism from a liberal–democratic point of view and goes on to develop normative standards that allow us to distinguish between more and less legitimate forms of populism. The point of this exercise is not to dismiss populism in toto; the article strives for a more subtle result, namely, to show that liberal democracy can accommodate populism provided that the latter conforms to particular discursive norms. What the article calls a ‘liberal ethics of populism’ turns out to be closely bound up with a broader ethics of peoplehood, understood as a way of articulating who ‘the people’ are in a way that is compatible with liberal–democratic principles of political justification. Such an ethics, concludes the article, inevitably has a much wider audience than populist political actors: its addressees are all those who seek legitimately to exercise power in the name of the people.

Political Deliberative Process and Consensus: A Review of Objections to Liberal Democracy

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
José Eduardo Ribeiro Balera
Keyword(s):  
John Rawls ◽  
Liberal Democracy ◽  
Political Thought ◽  
The Political ◽  
Deliberative Process ◽  
Proper Understanding ◽  
Chantal Mouffe ◽  
The Face ◽  
Agonistic Democracy

In contemporary times, several theories have highlighted the role of democracy in resolving public controversies, especially in the face of pluralism. Based on this scenario, this article aims to resize some of the main criticisms of liberal democracy. Therefore, initially, the essay presents the striking features of the political thought of Jürgen Habermas and John Rawls for the proper understanding of this review. Then, these characteristics are confronted with objections formulated by Chantal Mouffe, who is an advocate of a concept of agonistic democracy.

scholarly journals PANCASILA, DEMOKRASI LIBERAL DAN KOMUNITARISME

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (2) ◽  
pp. 311
Author(s):  
Otto Gusti Madung
Keyword(s):  
Social Relationships ◽  
Collective Identity ◽  
Liberal Democracy ◽  
The Public ◽  
Complex Processes ◽  
The People ◽  
The Reformation ◽  
The Face ◽  
Agonistic Democracy ◽  
The Public Sphere

The domcratisation process which has been pursued by the Indonesian nation since the reformation era is now caught up in a procedural democracy without the wellbeing of the people or social justice. Proceduralism is the most basic criticism of liberal democracy by republicans and communitarians. From a communitarian perspective, the Pancasila state ideology as the normative base and collective identity of the Indonesian nation is able to offer a way out of the crisis of liberal democracy as practised in Indonesia. This essay attempts to show that it is not an effort to build a democratic order upon procedural ethics as is assumed by liberals, but rather the need to provide a substantial ethical foundation. This is the case as a democratic system is not filled with atomistic individuals but with social relationships. A democratic process always moves within a society shaped by social relationships and various complex processes for the formation of communities. Democracy is built upon a collective identity which is formal yet fragile. In the Indonesian context, the Pancasila is the collective expression the nation’s identity. As a collective identity, the Pancasila will never be complete, but will always be in a state of becoming rediscovering itself anew. In the final section, two methods are presented, namely the method of deliberative and agonistic democracy as a way proposed by contemporary political philosophy in overcoming conflicts in values in the face of pluralism. The Pancasila will become the collective identity which animates the people of Indonesia, only when it is open to a process of rational deliberation in the public sphere and is ready to be only one alternative in the midst of a competitive discourse. <b>Kata-kata kunci:</b> liberalisme, komunitarisme, Pancasila, identitas kolektif, demokrasi, deliberasi, agonistik.

scholarly journals The Weakness of Liberal Democracy a Lever to the Success of Anti-Establishment Parties: Chantal Mouffe on Challenges of the Political

2021 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 329-346
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Borkowska-Nowak
Keyword(s):  
Liberal Democracy ◽  
European Countries ◽  
The Political ◽  
Right Wing ◽  
Left Wing ◽  
Current State ◽  
Chantal Mouffe ◽  
Liberal Societies ◽  
The Way

Today in Europe we are witnessing a populist turn, we could even speak of a “populist moment” that signals the crisis of neoliberal democracy. According to Chantal Mouffe, “the populist moment” is the expression of a set of heterogeneous demands, which cannot be formulated in traditional right/left frontier. The battles of our time will be between right-wing and left-wing populism. Although the current state of liberal societies appears to favor the development of a Right project, Mouffe proves that just a left-wing one can uphold any kind of radicalisation of democracy. The aim of this paper is to examine the reasons for the increasing success of populist parties in European countries and to consider whether the way the present crisis is manifesting is conducive to the growth of a populist narrative, especially in its right-wing variant.

LEADERS AND TIMES OF CRISIS: JEREMIAH 5:1–6 A CASE IN POINT

2017 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 657-677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilhelm J. Wessels
Keyword(s):  
Ordinary People ◽  
Covenant Theology ◽  
The People ◽  
History Of ◽  
Book Of Jeremiah ◽  
Definitive Role ◽  
Ethical Obligations ◽  
Moral Demands ◽  
The Way ◽  
Crisis Situations

The book of Jeremiah reflects a particular period in the history of Judah, certain theological perspectives and a particular portrayal of the prophet Jeremiah. Covenant theology played a major role in Jeremiah’s view of life and determined his expectations of leaders and ordinary people. He placed high value on justice and trustworthiness, and people who did not adhere to this would in his view bear the consequences of disobedience to Yahweh’s moral demands and unfaithfulness. The prophet expected those in positions of leadership to adhere to certain ethical obligations as is clear from most of the nouns which appear in Jeremiah 5:1–6. This article argues that crisis situations in history affect leaders’ communication, attitudes and responses. Leaders’ worldviews and ideologies play a definitive role in their responses to crises. Jeremiah’s religious views are reflected in his criticism and demands of people in his society. This is also true as seen from the way the people and leaders in Judah responded to the prophet’s proclamation. Jeremiah 5:1–6 emphasises that knowledge and accountability are expected of leaders at all times, but in particular during unstable political times.

Rediseñando las Organizaciones del Futuro. El impacto de la transformación digital en el mundo del trabajo

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 199-226
Author(s):  
Ricardo M. Piñeyro Prins ◽  
Guadalupe E. Estrada Narvaez
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Revolution ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Third Sector ◽  
Digital Transformation ◽  
Digital Culture ◽  
Exploratory Research ◽  
The People ◽  
Technological Advances ◽  
Current Scenario ◽  
The Way

We are witnessing how new technologies are radically changing the design of organizations, the way in which they produce and manage both their objectives and their strategies, and -above all- how digital transformation impacts the people who are part of it. Even today in our country, many organizations think that digitalizing is having a presence on social networks, a web page or venturing into cases of success in corporate social intranet. Others begin to invest a large part of their budget in training their teams and adapting them to the digital age. But given this current scenario, do we know exactly what the digital transformation of organizations means? It is necessary? Implying? Is there a roadmap to follow that leads to the success of this process? How are organizations that have been born 100% digital from their business conception to the way of producing services through the use of platforms? What role does the organizational culture play in this scenario? The challenge of the digital transformation of businesses and organizations, which is part of the paradigm of the industrial revolution 4.0, is happening here and now in all types of organizations, whether are they private, public or third sector. The challenge to take into account in this process is to identify the digital competences that each worker must face in order to accompany these changes and not be left out of it. In this sense, the present work seeks to analyze the main characteristics of the current technological advances that make up the digital transformation of organizations and how they must be accompanied by a digital culture and skills that allow their successful development. In order to approach this project, we will carry out an exploratory research, collecting data from the sector of new actors in the world of work such as employment platforms in its various areas (gastronomy, delivery, transportation, recreation, domestic service, etc) and an analysis of the main technological changes that impact on the digital transformation of organizations in Argentina.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document