Power and Democracy

Question 1

Difference

Answer 1

Empirical observation that there are different groups with different interests and beliefs

Question 2

Why can difference be seen as disadvantageous to the common good?

Answer 2

Groups advocate for their own special interests than are incongruent with the interests of other groups

Question 3

Five forms of oppression

Answer 3

Exploitation, marginalisation, powerlessness, cultural imperialism, violence

Question 4

Epistemic injustice

Answer 4

Oppression is maintained through the way people are informed about it. Ignorance

Question 5

Subversive lucidity

Answer 5

Oppressed people have an advantage over the privileged because they understand systematic oppression

Question 6

Epistemic virtues

Answer 6

Subversive lucidity, open-mindedness, curiosity, humility

Question 7

Jose Medina’s key points

Active Ignorance, Epistemic Others and Epistemic Friction File (2013)

Answer 7

Privileged are socially arrogant and have epistemic vices of ignorance and insensitivity; oppressed can gain epistemic virtues; society has responsibility to incorporate all views and adopt a multiplicitous consciousness to achieve an epistemic equilibrium

Question 8

Multiplicitous consciousness

Answer 8

Idea that all perspectives must be considered despite the epistemic friction

Question 9

Epistocracy

Answer 9

Political power should be held by those with the competency, knowledge and trustworthiness to make decisions

Question 10

The truth tenet of epistocracy

Answer 10

Normative political questions have correct answers

Question 11

The knowledge tenet of epistocracy

Answer 11

A minority of well-informed people know the answers to normative political questions better than others

Question 12

The authority tenet of epistocracy

Answer 12

The fact that some people have better political understanding than others gives them the authority to wield political power

Question 13

Features of epistocratic systems

Answer 13

Restricted suffrage, weighted voting, epistocratic vetoes, enfranchisement lotteries

Question 14

Jason Brennan's key points
Against Democracy (2016)

Answer 14

Public don’t know enough to make informed choices in elections; he thinks the complexity of the political system has led to rational apathy; epistocracy would reduce political tribalism and produce better governments

Question 15

Rational apathy

Answer 15

Not informing oneself on politics because it is simply too complex

Question 16

Criticisms of epistocracy

Answer 16

John Rawls says Western societies are too pluralistic to become epistocratic, as it would be impossible to select the decision-makers

Question 17

Deliberation

Answer 17

Formalised political discussion of issues between small groups that are diverse and representative of society

Question 18

First deliberative poll

Answer 18

Manchester 1994

301 participants deliberated crime

Question 19

Ackerman and Fishkin key points
Deliberation Day (2002)

Answer 19

Nationwide deliberative event held a week before the national election
Consists of watching tv debate between party leaders, small group discussion of issues, q and a with party officials
Would improve voter knowledge and mutual respect between people

Question 20

Criticisms of deliberation day

Answer 20

Would cost $15 bn per election; certain vital public service workers could not attend; success is difficult to measure empirically

Question 21

Confirmation bias

Answer 21

People only pay attention to points raised that are in line with their pre-existing ideas

Question 22

In-group bias

Answer 22

People are tribalised when placed in small groups

Question 23

Ackerman and Fishkin quote

Answer 23

“The public’s most basic political knowledge is appalling by any normative standard”

Question 24

Iris Marion Young’s text

Answer 24

Activist Challenges to Deliberative Democracy (2001)

Question 25

Young’s FIRST challenge

Answer 25

Deliberative procedures are exclusive. They do not include all effective voices
Example of WTO meet in Seattle in 1999

Question 26

Young’s SECOND challenge

Answer 26

Formal inclusion is not enough, disadvantaged people are less likely to afford transport or childcare to attend deliberative events

Question 27

Young’s THIRD challenge

Answer 27

Narrow range of topics available to debate. Topics are selected by parties and government, who wield power
Example of Implementing the Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act in 1996

Question 28

Young’s FOURTH challenge

Answer 28

Hegemonic discourse

Inherent inequalities in societal structures and political taboos mean that any consensus reached will be false

Question 29

Hegemonic discourse

Answer 29

Debates are confined to societal norms that have been constructed by elites over time, and diffused through the populace

Question 30

Gramsci’s “ideology”

Answer 30

State uses hegemonic power (media, education, government, religion) in order to make the proletariat consent to an unequal society

Question 31

How does Young think activists can create hegemonic discourse?

Answer 31

Through shocking, non-discursive techniques

Question 32

Agonistic democracy

Answer 32

Conflict between groups is an inevitability in society that should be facilitated, rather than eradicated

Question 33

Carl Schmitt’s idea of the political

Answer 33

The decision to distinguish between friend and enemy when politics becomes intense
State-centric view of the political

Question 34

Chantal Mouffe’s idea of the political

Answer 34

The moment when a group defines its identity, regardless of the level of intensity of conflict
Believes conflict should happen within states as well as between them

Question 35

Mouffe’s three philosophical claims

Answer 35

Identity is always partly developed through those it excludes, ontologically impossible to avoid conflict
There is no single, rational political order - all political movements are competing for hegemony
Emotion and passion drive political allegiances

Question 36

Mouffe quote

Answer 36

The aim of democratic politics is to “transform potential antagonism into agonism”

Question 37

Mouffe’s problems with modern democracy

Answer 37

Neoliberal economic consensus; criticism of third way politics; believes this consensus has led to rise of right-wing populism