Why Democratic Theory? [Co-authored with Mark Chou, this introductory article to the first issue of the journal Democratic Theory makes the case for the field’s importance in, and relevance to, our political times.] The post-1945 world is well documented for its surge in the study of and struggles over “democracy”. The Eurocentric and then Pacific […]
The Crisis of Democracy: Which Crisis? Which Democracy?
The Crisis of Democracy: Which Crisis? Which Democracy? [This introductory article (editorial) was co-authored with Selen Ercan and first published in Democratic Theory. It introduces a special issue on the “crisis of democracy” which came out of a national symposium on the subject hosted by the Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis, University of Canberra.] Abstract: […]
A Genealogy of Deliberative Democracy
A Genealogy of Deliberative Democracy [This conversation with Stephen Elstub on deliberative democracy was first published in Democratic Theory.] AbstractStephen Elstub articulates that deliberative democracy, as a theory, can be seen as having gone through various distinct generations. The first generation was a period where the normative values and the justifications for deliberative democracy were […]
The ‘will of the people’? It’s the bastardisation of democracy
The ‘will of the people’? It’s the bastardisation of democracy [First published by The Conversation, this article was co-authored with Mark Chou.] The Abbott government, when faced with opposition over the past year, has commonly resorted to two lifeline statements. The first is that it’s carrying out the “will of the people”. And the second is […]
Democracy needs heroes to champion the cause
Democracy needs heroes to champion the cause [Originally published by The Conversation, co-authored with Mark Chou and Octavia Bryant.] Laureates, like symbolic ambassadors and commissioners, draw attention to causes and issues that we, as a society, consider to be of widespread importance. In various parts of the world, medicine, physics, chemistry, economics, literature, peace, poetry, children, writing, research and human rights all have the dedicated service of […]
Supplement A: 2,234 Descriptions of Democracy: An Update to Democracy's Ontological Pluralism
Supplement A: 2,234 Descriptions of Democracy: An Update to Democracy’s Ontological Pluralism [This is the first supplement to the research note “2,234 Descriptions of Democracy” first published in Democratic Theory.] Evidence in support of the claim “over the last two hundred years it has been noted that there are many . . . ways to […]
2,234 Descriptions of Democracy: An Update to Democracy's Ontological Pluralism
2,234 Descriptions of Democracy: An Update to Democracy’s Ontological Pluralism [This research note was first published in Democratic Theory. It is accompanied by three appendices: A (appendix a), B (appendix b), and C (appendix c).] Citation guide: Jean-Paul Gagnon. 2018. “2,234 Descriptions of Democracy: An Update to Democracy’s Ontological Pluralism”. Democratic Theory, 5(2): 92-113. Abstract: […]
Should Australia lower the voting age to 16?
Should Australia lower the voting age to 16? [I was invited by The Conversation to answer this question. I, and the other four commentators (Helen Berents, Philippa Collin, Lisa Hill, and Louise Phillips) said yes.] The Conversation: Voting is a key part of the democratic process. It allows all citizens of a certain age to […]
Little Phil: Changing the Relationship between Philanthropy and Democracy?
Little Phil: Changing the Relationship between Philanthropy and Democracy? [This practitioner’s note first appears in Democratic Theory. I was, before running into Little Phil and its co-founder Joshua Murchie, reading into the relationship between “big philanthropy” and (usually) US-American democracy (perhaps due to the level of very wealthy people in that country and their histories […]
Enlivening the Democratic Imagination
Enlivening the Democratic Imagination [This conversation with John Keane was first published in the book Democratic Theorists in Conversation: Turns in Contemporary Thought.] Defining democracy Gagnon: How do you define democracy? Keane: My conjecture is that, in matters of democracy, we are living in a period that resembles the end of the eighteenth century and […]
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