(Un)democratic change and struggles over the meaning of democracy (Part 2 of 2)

Abstract

The panel investigates whether contemporary shifts in the meaning of democracy indicate a broader transformation in democratic practices and it highlights the gendered dimension of this process. It proceeds from the premise that 1) democracy is a fundamentally contested concept (Walter Gallie), constantly being re-shaped and shifted and that 2) these shifts are intrinsically gendered and intersectional. For example, contemporary autocratic leaders and movements do not openly reject democracy and its basic principles, but re-interpret them as a masculinist, antipluralist and nationalist project. Thereby, masculinism is understood as a claim of masculine superiority in politics and society (Eva Kreisky) and thus an expression of (structural) political violence. Masculinist reinterpretations of democracy do not go unchallenged. Counter-discourses and resistant practices are emerging that seek to develop an intersectional understanding of democracy. These struggles over the meaning of democracy unfold across traditional and new social media platforms, in parliamentary debate, in civil society discourse, and other public spheres. At their core there are often specific constructions of the people (demos) and their gendered representation. The panel invites contributions that engage with questions such as: What constructions of the people appear in specific contexts, e.g. autocratizing political rhetoric or protest movements? What patterns of inclusion and exclusion (gender, belonging, intersectional positioning) are embedded within these constructions? What are the implications when democratic norms of equality, freedom or minority rights are reframed or distorted? What masculinist discursive and rhetorical strategies are applied to reframe democratic values and how can they be countered? Etc. We welcome both theoretical and empirical research. Methodological approaches that extend beyond discourse analysis are also encouraged.

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