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James, Toby S. 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5826-5461
(2024)
Real democracy: A critical realist approach to democracy and democratic theory.
New Political Science.
ISSN 0739-3148
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Abstract
This article presents an alternative general model of democracy to traditional minimalist (electoral and liberal) and deliberative theories by drawing from critical realist philosophical thought. Realist or real democracy is proposed as a societal system where preconditions exist to fully empower all citizens to realise their individual capabilities. This includes empowerment opportunities at the ballot box – but also other preconditions such as health, educational and living standards. Real democracy also separates democratic preconditions from democratic outcomes. Democratic outcomes require the absence of inequalities in power as result from the contingent interaction preconditions and human agency. The new approach is argued to provide a more holistic and dynamic concept of democracy which is also more grounded in the everyday experience of the citizen compared to traditional approaches. It reconnects democracy with theories of human development and enables a new classification of political regimes and conception of democratic politics. An initial empirical mapping of patterns of global real democracy shows evidence of rising preconditions since 1990 – but stagnation since 2010 and some signs of decline. Democratic outcomes by socio-economic position saw the most notable decline.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | democracy,democratic backsliding,democratization,critical realism,democracy,ontology,sociology and political science,sdg 16 - peace, justice and strong institutions,sdg 5 - gender equality,sdg 10 - reduced inequalities,sdg 1 - no poverty,sdg 3 - good health and well-being,sdg 4 - quality education,sdg 2 - zero hunger,4* ,/dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/3300/3312 |
| Faculty \ School: | Faculty of Arts and Humanities > School of Politics, Philosophy, Language and Communication Studies (former - to 2024) |
| UEA Research Groups: | Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Policy & Politics Faculty of Arts and Humanities > Research Groups > Political, Social and International Studies |
| Related URLs: | |
| Depositing User: | LivePure Connector |
| Date Deposited: | 31 Jul 2024 18:27 |
| Last Modified: | 12 Aug 2024 08:30 |
| URI: | https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/96048 |
| DOI: | 10.1080/07393148.2024.2382644 |
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