Can the all-affected principle include future persons? Green deliberative democracy and the non-identity problem

Abstract

An increasing number of green political theorists now base their arguments on some form of deliberative, or discursive, democracy. Some of these argue that through its commitment to the all-affected principle, deliberative democracy requires contemporary deliberators to be able to justify their decisions to persons in future generations, which would lead to significant environmental protections. This article cautions against such a strategy. It argues that the green deliberative democrats propounding it have paid insufficient attention to Derek Parfit's ‘Non-Identity Problem’. It is claimed that a reading of the basic principles of deliberative democracy shows that it is based on a narrow person-affecting view, and is hence vulnerable to the non-identity problem. It therefore cannot by itself justify inclusion of future persons. An alternative approach, based on broadly Rawlsian lines, is offered as a solution.