The value theory of democracy

Corey Brettschneider
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Corey Brettschneider: Brown University, USA, Corey_Brettschneider@Brown.edu

Politics, Philosophy & Economics, 2006, vol. 5, issue 3, 259-278

Abstract: Liberal political theorists often argue that justice requires limits on policy outcomes, limits delineated by substantive rights. Distinct from this project is a body of literature dedicated to elaborating on the meaning of democracy in procedural terms. In this article, I offer an alternative to the traditional divide between procedural theories of democracy and substantive theories of justice; I call this the ‘value theory of democracy’. I argue that the democratic ideal is fundamentally about a core set of values (political autonomy, equality of interests, and reciprocity) with both procedural and substantive implications. Further, I contend that limits on policy outcomes can be newly understood as part of the democratic ideal.

Keywords: democracy; rights; substantive; procedural; Habermas (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2006
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:pophec:v:5:y:2006:i:3:p:259-278

DOI: 10.1177/1470594X06068300

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