From agonistic to insurgent democracy

Bibliographic Data

ID6445009
AuthorsLaura Buti (0000-0002-8806-0838, KU Leuven, corresponding author)
Year2023
Volume51
Issue2
Pages263-279
Publication date2023-02-15
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePhilosophy & Social Criticism (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0191-4537 • E-ISSN: 1461-734X
PublisherSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/01914537231157383
OpenAlexW4320917747
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited30

This article uncovers an internal tension within theories of agonistic democracy. On the one hand, as radical pluralists, agonistic democrats want to institute a ‘symmetrical’ political scene where different identities can struggle on an equally legitimate basis. On the other hand, they often normatively prioritize the struggles of oppressed groups against domination. In response, this article proposes to collapse any strict distinction between pluralism and social relations of domination. The result is a move from agonistic to insurgent democracy, where insurgent struggles against domination give the central impetus to any democracy. To do so, it turns to the writings of Étienne Balibar, who argues that most, if not all, symmetrical political conflict is built on asymmetrical forms of domination or oppression. This leads us to develop an account of democratic conflict that is incessantly asymmetrical. Finally, this article suggests an alternative way of rescuing the political principle of pluralism cherished by agonistic democrats. Balibar’s writings on the ‘ideology of the dominated’ show that every insurgent struggle expresses itself ideologically, which harbours the risk of obscuring other forms of domination. Therefore, democracy is not only kept alive by insurgent movements, it requires that the latter democratize themselves by maintaining a permanent openness to alternative calls against domination or oppression

Aggression · Agonistic behaviour · Democracy · Epistemology · Foregrounding · Ideology · Oppression · Pluralism (philosophy · Political economy · Political philosophy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Communism, Protests, Social Movements · Law · Marxism and Critical Theory · Philosophy · Philosophy, Sociology, Political Theory · Social Psychology