Why Democracy?

Academic and public discourse considering democracy is vast, diverse, and widely contested. A challenge facing political scholars is how to meaningfully make sense of and order the plurality of conceptions that exist. In considering this challenge, this paper offers a critique of the single, often unquestioned assumption underpinning the entire debate on democracy: ‘why democracy?’ I argue that behind this backdrop of plurality and contestation rests the assumption that democracy is nevertheless the expected choice. Rather than dig into understanding the nature of this assumed commitment to democracy, and what insights this might provide regarding democracy’s challenges and potential reforms, scholars regularly fail to address this initial assumption altogether. Those who have, often open with the question ‘why democracy?’ but proceed to merely defend their own particular conception of democracy, leaving the initial question unanswered. I argue that failure to address this starting assumption, taking it as given, weakens the potential for any conception of democracy to meaningfully address contemporary challenges. While a certain conception of democracy may indeed be the best choice, we must first ask on what basis, in what context, under which circumstances, and consider how often we critically evaluate and justify this choice. Failing to question this starting assumption instead sets a precedent that certain assumptions need not be questioned, particularly by those whose responsibility it is to question assumptions. As such, this paper will argue that it is not only the responsibility of political scholars to understand the plurality of our conceptions, but to examine the assumptions that these significant concepts rely on. Such considerations are not a threat to our values and the realization of a healthy, well-functioning society, but an essential component of it. Through rigorous analysis, critique, and justification of those concepts, principles, and values that shape and inform socio-political life, political scholars can help to further clarify and order our most difficult socio-political choices.