Democratic politics depend on citizen participation, trust and support. While this support in democratic institutions and political elites is declining, public and scholarly discourse frequently suggests counteracting the challenge by strengthening the role of experts in political decision-making, yet such reform proposals convey a paternalistic threat that contravenes fundamental democratic principles.
Proposing an alternative, âradical proceduralistâ understanding of democratic legitimacy and institutional reform, Radical Proceduralism argues that there is no such thing as âpolitical truthâ or âcorrectnessâ that could justify experts wielding political power. Rather, the only criterion for democratic legitimacy is the fair and equal inclusion of all affected citizens.
Radical Proceduralism bridges the gap between political philosophy and practical institutional experimentation asking us to bring citizens back in and to engage them in a dialogue about âthe rules of the democratic gameâ and proposing institutional devices that figure as âconversation startersâ and facilitate such dialogues.
Politics & current events