The Democratic ParadoxFrom the theory of 'deliberative democracy' to the politics of the 'third way', the present Zeitgeist is characterized by attempts to deny what Chantal Mouffe contends is the inherently conflictual nature of democratic politics. Far from being signs of progress, such ideas constitute a serious threat to democratic institutions. Taking issue with John Rawls and J?rgen Habermas on one side, and the political tenets of Blair, Clinton and SchrÜder on the other, Mouffe brings to the fore the paradoxical nature of modern liberal democracy in which the category of the 'adversary' plays a central role. She draws on the work of Wittgenstein, Derrida, and the provocative theses of Carl Schmitt, to propose a new understanding of democracy which acknowledges the ineradicability of antagonism in its workings. |
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acknowledge adversary advocating agonistic confrontation agonistic pluralism agreement antagonism approach argue argument articulation Benhabib Carl Schmitt central Chantal Mouffe citizens citizenship common conflict constitutive cratic critique crucial decisions deliberation deliberative democracy deliberative model democ democracy requires democratic institutions democratic politics democratic society demos Derrida dimension discourse eliminated entails envisage Ernesto Laclau establish ethics exclusion exist fact framework frontier globalization grasp Habermas Habermasian hegemony homogeneity human Ibid idea ideal identity important impossibility ineradicable interests issue John Rawls language-games left/right legitimacy legitimate liberal democracy liberal-democratic liberties logic Ludwig Wittgenstein model of democratic modern democracy moral nature neo-liberal overlapping consensus paradox perspective pluralism of values pluralist democracy political liberalism political theory popular sovereignty principles problem procedures public sphere racy rational consensus rationalist Rawls's realization regime Richard Rorty rule Seyla Benhabib social democracy specific tension theorists tion traditional understanding unity Wittgenstein Wittgensteinian
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Bibliographic information
| Title | The Democratic Paradox Phronesis (London) Phronesis (London, England) Phronesis Series |
| Author | Chantal Mouffe |
| Publisher | Verso, 2000 |
| ISBN | 1859842798, 9781859842799 |
| Length | 143 pages |
| Export Citation | BiBTeX EndNote RefMan |