Radikale Demokratie und Gemeinschaft

Question 1

Radical Democracy

Answer 1

• Radical democracy is a type of democracy that advocates the radical extension of equality and liberty. Radical democracy is concerned with a radical extension of equality and freedom, following the idea that democracy is an unfinished, inclusive, continuous and reflexive process.
• “… demands that we acknowledge difference-the particular, the multiple, the heterogeneous–in effect, everything that had been excluded by the concept of Man in the abstract. Universalism is not rejected but particularized; what is needed is a new kind of articulation between the universal and the particular.” (References: Habermas, Laclau, Pateman, Arendt)

Question 2

Democratic Horizon

Answer 2

• An unreachable yet visible goal of a “perfect” democracy
• Principles: equality, freedom, solidarity, popular sovereignty

Question 3

From which perspectives do we approach community today? Democracy as Community

Answer 3

Democracy To Come (Derrida)
- Unfulfilled principles of equality, freedom, solidarity, popular sovereignty
- Cannot be fulfilled yet motivates for approximation

Solidarity as a characteristic of community

Identity politics / party politics
- Right-wing politics argues for segregation, ethnopluralism
- Left-wing politics argues for a protection of minorities

Retreat to the private sphere
- “scenes”,“internalcommunities”(Binnengemeinschaften)
* Consequences: “parceling” (Parzellierung) of areas + ghetto-formation

Question 4

What are “Binnengemeinschaften”?

Answer 4

A reaction to modernity
- Reminder modernity ≠ modernism
- Modernity marks the period of time since Enlightenment

Why? Search for return to “homely capsules” that never existed (anti-modern desires)
- Link to Claviez –> nostalgic notions of community!

Question 5

Liberal individualism vs. groups (Sociological-ontological perspective)

Answer 5

modernity marked by a loss of belief in a secure foundation
- If there is no God, what gives us foundation?

Consequences: post-fundamentalism, contingencies and conflicts –> a search for community - What was contingency again? (Contingency: a future event or circumstance which is possible but cannot be predicted with certainty)
- Contingency in this instance: there are no pre-destined rules how a society is intended to be

Question 6

Democratic-theoretical perspective

Answer 6

• Democratic revolution as a freeing from the aristocratic totalitarianism
• Post-feudal, post-en-ciel era since 1798 (French Revolution)
• The place of power is ever since only occupied temporarily (contingent)
• Constant conflict for power
• What is democracy then: a symbolic order that accepts these contingencies and conflicts!
• No community can produce a singular stable identity in this system! Politics cannot be neutralised!

Question 7

Example: Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra

Answer 7

• What do you notice in this clip in terms of community (how it is made up, who belongs, who does not belong)?
• Homogenous, almost exclusively male
• Active since 1842
• An example for self-governed democracy!
• Blending of ethnos and demos
• Ethnos: “ethnic group”
• Demos: “common people”
• Antisemitic organisation
• Part of Nazi propaganda
• Exclusion of other gender expressions
• Only since 1997 but only 16% “women” in 2022

Question 8

What does Anton Schmid tell us about community?

Answer 8

• Not a Jew yet helps them
• Becomes a “traitor” to his own community
• Identification with new — alienation from old community
• Community is not fixed, rather you can choose membership

Question 9

Summary — Which notions of community did we encounter today?

Answer 9

• Solidarity as a concept for community
• Modernity’s relationship to community
• Democracy as a solution for community crises of modernity? * Example for homogenous community
• Example for crossing over between communities