Abstract
This essay explores the problem of legitimation crises in deliberative systems. For some time now, theorists of deliberative democracy have started to embrace a “systemic approach.” But if deliberative democracy is to be understood in the context of a system of multiple moving parts, then we must confront the possibility that that system’s dynamics may admit of breakdowns, contradictions, and tendencies toward crisis. Yet such crisis potentials remain largely unexplored in deliberative theory. The present article works toward rectifying this lacuna, using the 2016 Brexit and Trump votes as examples of a particular kind of “legitimation crisis” that results in a sequence of failures in the deliberative system. Drawing on recent work of Rainer Forst, I identify this particular kind of legitimation crisis as a “justification crisis.”
Highlights
This essay explores the problem of legitimation crises in deliberative systems
The present essay works toward exploring such crisis potentials, using the Brexit vote and Trump’s election as examples of a particular kind of legitimation crisis that results from incongruities between deliberative system components
As stated at the beginning, the above is not meant as a complete explanation of the Brexit vote or Trump’s election much less a general account of the recent populist surge
Summary
This essay explores the problem of legitimation crises in deliberative systems. For some time theorists of deliberative democracy have started to embrace a “systemic approach.” But if deliberative democracy is to be understood in the context of a system of multiple moving parts, we must confront the possibility that that system’s dynamics may admit of breakdowns, contradictions, and tendencies toward crisis. Deliberative and nondeliberative components, such as the public sphere, the political party system, and voting systems.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary 
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call