Generative Democracy

Democracy is more than a form of government; it is more than a political idea. It is a dynamic and vibrant social condition that is constantly evolving. The debates we conduct under the term “democracy” in academia and society, in the public and private spheres, thus always have an impact on the development process. For this reason, I would like to introduce the concept of generative democracy in order to initiate a more holistic approach to thinking about democracy. Since, in my view, democracy is not and must not be something static, but is, so to speak, in a continuous evolutionary trial-and-error process, the associated thesis is that we have ongoing search movements in science and society. This is the default mode of democracy as a form of society with the primacy of openness and, associated with this, the potential for adaptation. Democracy is always in a state of being and becoming at the same time. This contrasts with the attempt of autocratic regimes as symbols of closed (or more closed) forms of society with the primacy of limiting adaptation. Both patterns of thought—potential for adaptation and limitation of adaptation—serve the self-preservation of societies, which should ensure the survival and life of the people embedded in them. The concept of generative democracy introduced here requires a corresponding self-reflection on the part of democracy research, which has always been and continues to be generative democracy research. As scientists, we are observers and co-creators of this very democratic state of society – not only through political activism, but also through our work as scientists in our societies. This article takes a theoretical-conceptual approach and aims to provide impetus for current debates in democracy research, thereby contributing to the discourse on opening up the paradigm of democracy.