The case for extending measures of democracy in the world "Beneath", "Above", and "Outside" the national level

Bibliographic Data

ID5720060
AuthorsJean-Paul Gagnon (0000-0003-3234-7319, University of Canberra, corresponding author), Dannica Fleuß (0000-0003-4214-4806, Helmut Schmidt University)
Year2020
Volume83
Pages102276
Publication date2020-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolitical Geography (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0962-6298 • E-ISSN: 1873-5096
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.polgeo.2020.102276
OpenAlexW3084833350
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited63

This article applies spatial theory, or the view that phenomena are distributed in space, to democracy. This analysis demonstrates that plural (two or more) democratic practices are evident in three spatial categories: (1) vertical stratification (i.e. at different levels of governance), (2) horizontal separation (i.e. among different agents operating at each level of governance), and (3) social association (i.e. in workplaces, families, schools). This finding, that plural democratic practices are demonstrated by agents operating at multiple levels of governance and in various non- or quasi-governmental associations prompts us to argue that measures of democracy in the world should be extended to spaces “beneath”, “above”, and “outside” the national level – presently the dominant locus for regular batteries that test the quality and extent of democratic practices globally. However, global data on the quality and extent of democracy at these other levels needs to be built before such an extension can happen

Corporate governance · Democracy · Economics · Management · Plural · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Computer Science · Culture, Economy, and Development Studies · Electoral Systems and Political Participation · Law · Public Administration · Social and Cultural Dynamics

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