Canada's Republican Invention? On the Political Theory and Practice of Citizens' Assemblies

Bibliographic Data

ID6345385
AuthorsJohn Grant (0000-0003-0936-6482, University of Toronto, corresponding author)
Year2014
Volume62
Issue3
Pages539-555
Publication date2014-10-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenuePolitical Studies (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0032-3217 • E-ISSN: 1467-9248
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1111/1467-9248.12059
OpenAlexW1837825643
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited21

This article compares variants of republican and liberal theory in order to assess which can make a stronger proprietary claim to the new democratic practice of citizens' assemblies (CAs). I argue that in respect of the categories of representation, liberty and citizenship, CAs are primarily republican in character. The argument is significant for three reasons. First, the political theory terrain is remapped, affirming clear differences between liberal and republican theories while maintaining an appreciation of what they share. Second, a complex intertwining of negative, positive and republican forms of liberty emerges, which runs contrary to an established tendency where modes of liberty are conceived according to excessively narrow parameters. Finally, supporters of the republican revival in political theory acknowledge that its future success depends on real institutional innovations. Yet this challenge has been taken on ‘timidly and inadequately’ in the judgement of one prominent republican. This article presents the CA model as an ideal existing institution worthy of full republican support

Argument (complex analysis · Character (mathematics · Citizenship · Democracy · Democratic Theory · Economics · Ideal (ethics · Institution · Judgement · Law and economics · Order (exchange · Political science · Politics · Representation (politics · Sociology · American Constitutional Law and Politics · Canadian Identity and History · Law · Political Systems and Governance

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