The Theory of Democracy in Times of Crisis. Analyses, Dialogues and Proposals

Abstract

In a context usually described as a crisis of democracy, Political Theory cannot stay indifferent. Indeed, the multiple theories of democracy provide a plurality of models from which different analysis of the situation and, therefore, varied recommendations of change, arise. However, these approaches are rarely coherent with each other. While Habermas has claimed against the lack of a European public opinion where rational consensus may appear, agonistic thinkers like Mouffe consider that we precisely need to break (at least partially) with the present consensus in order to recover the space for politics that makes democracy possible. On their side, participatory projects have sprung in the local, following Porto Alegre’s model, and demand direct participation in politics, while some theorists working on political representation such as N. Urbinati try to redefine “representative democracy”, defending the importance of this so-called oxymoron. This panel aims to put into dialogue these and other traditions, in order to find their contradictions and coincidences, the points in which they are complementary and those in which one of them is downright more persuasive, all around the analysis of the present difficulties of democracy in Europe. Papers establishing this dialogue, as well as those presenting an analysis of the situation and recommendations with a strong base on theoretical debates, are welcome.

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