Dissent Flashcards
Who is the author associated with Dissent
Iris Marion Young
Simply list the four activist challenges to deliberation?
- Deliberative procedures are exclusive
- Formal inclusion is not enough
- Constrained Alternatives
- Hegemonic discourse
Describe and explain the idea that “Deliberative procedures are exclusive”?
- In the real world, powerful elites have influence over political processes including deliberation.
- structured procedures between officials and dignitaries.
- Deliberation is an activity of boardrooms, elites manage the settings, entrance is tightly controlled, invitation only.
- interests of the many affected by the decision often receive no voice/ representation.
- no public record/ general observation.
- The decisions reached will reflect those deliberating; elites will only debate policies that sustain their power/further own interest.
- These deliberative bodies support structural inequality.
- Take oppositional stance rather than entering dialogue with the elites on their constricted terms.
- use power of shame to pressure deliberators to widen agenda.
Example of when deliberative procedures are exclusive?
Seattle, December 1999, Heads of states/high officials came to a meeting of World Trade Organisation (WTO) to deliberate new round of global trade rules
- proceedings close, meeting not public.
- little attention to the effects of free trade on average citizens, they had not say.
What would the Deliberative Democrat’s response be to the first activist challenge?
agreed.
as the proceedings of elite meetings are exclusive and non public, they are not democratic, even if deliberative.
- Deliberation requires publicity, accountability and inclusion to be legitimate.
- Would likely protest alongside the activist.
Describe and explain the idea that “Formal inclusion is not enough.”
Official deliberative bodies have taken steps to make processes more public/inclusive. include general observation/more diversity of representatives in parliament for example.
e. g. citizen juries (Fishkin) - broadly representative of the profile of electorate.
e. g. public agencies hold hearings to discuss policy proposals, members of public invited to testify.
HOWEVER, structural biases exist in society, more powerful actors have greater access to deliberative process/dominate proceedings with their interest/perspectives.
If you wish to speak- need to understand, money for childcare, transport, time off work.
-Citizens should continue to criticise processes from the outside, if we participate, we confer undeserved legitimacy on them.
Example of when Formal Inclusion is not enough?
Many believe exclusiveness/unfairness of the meetings was overcome by measures implemented.
e.g. South Africa shining example of public deliberation inclusive.
- consultative process the government of South Africa ran to discuss new constitution that became law in 1996. Comments welcomed by email, public meetings for those unable to read.
HOWEVER,
structural biases seen here; citizens understood too little about meaning of constitution or their lives too occupied by survival.
What would the Deliberative Democrat’s response be to the second activist challenge?
Agrees that structural inequalities limit access of some people to formally inclusive deliberative settings.
However, citizens engage with institution designers, convince them that special measures need to be taken.
Describe and explain the idea of “Constrained alternatives.”
Activist is suspicious of idea that one can engage in reasoned and critical discussion with people he disagrees with, even if all interests/perspectives included.
- Because existing social and economic structures have set unacceptable constraints on terms of deliberation and its agenda.
problems/ disagreements are addressed against background of a given history of unjust structural inequality; sets agenda priorities/constrains alternatives.
Responsible citizen should withdraw from implicit acceptance like the anti poverty group did and not deliberate.
Example of constrained alternatives?
e.g. local anti poverty group protests for a year in lead up to Personal responsibility… act 1996
it changed welfare; allowed states to deny benefits when funds run out ect.
County welfare department made advisory council with influence over implementation and administration of welfare.
include alternative proposals.
Anti poverty group refused to join, constraints made by federal and state law on welfare policy, so no humane.
Could deliberate on where to place local welfare offices but no power to expand amount.
What would the Deliberative Democrat’s response be to the third activist challenge?
He finds refusal uncooperative and unproductive.
But no adequate response other than to accept activists suspicion.
Describe and explain the idea of “hegemonic discourse”
Activist is suspicious still, even when a deliberative forum is removed from direct contact with economic imperatives and power structures.
This is because a majority of participants will be influenced by a common discourse that is a product of structural inequality.
produce false consensus.
This false consensus not cause by excluding affected people or coercion but subtle.
hegemonic discourse makes it hard to think critically about oppressive social relations or alternative possibilities of institutionalism/ action.
conceptual frame for discussion contains biases, misunderstandings that go unnoticed as coincide with hegemonic interests.
- Since hegemonic discourse mask injustice subtly, activists often challenge these discourses by non deliberative means (rhetoric, drama, humour, mockery, ect.) in order to rupture common sense.
Define Discourse ?
A system of stories and expert knowledge diffused through society, which convey widely accepted generalisations about how society operates, as well as social norms, cultural values, which most people appeal if discussing solutions.
Example of Hegemonic Discourse?
International debates about greenhouse gas emissions contain disagreement about how emissions should be reduced/ how burdens of reductions distributed global.
These debates take place within terms of discussion that no one questions
Terms assume that we need to keep using it as need economic growth/material belongings. economies of developed society need burning of fossil fuels, high quality of life involves air conditions buildings ect.
What is the activist response to the fourth challenge?
(Except for James Bonham) the DD has no tools for raising possibility that deliberations may be closed/distorted.
Cannot see how discourses constitute the way individuals see themselves/ their social world.
Bonham suggests a test for legitimacy of deliberative processes, not whether groups get a hearing for their opinions but are able to initiate discussion on new thinks.
