Is Political Equality Possible Under Late Modern Conditions
Year: 2010
Type: preprint
Abstract: This paper first situates the problem of political equality in contemporary democratic discourse. It does so by discussing the type of political concept political equality is and reviewing important and at times contestable assumptions about its parameters. It then moves in two directions that seem contradictory. It both argues for a narrow conception of the main problem facing political inequality today and a very broad understanding of the way in which contemporary politics, economics, and culture make the goal of political equality very difficult to achieve. In turn, it suggests that the class voting gap - that is the way in which voting turnout is skewed by socio-economic position - is the most important problem facing political equality today and offers a program of action to mitigate this gap. It then discusses the ways in which simple changes of rules of the game will not be sufficient given important realities of political economy and culture of late modernity, and the way these must be navigated by humans for whom constitution of self-identity is a never ending challenge. It suggests, in conclusion, elements of a democratic philosophy that can afford a political reform agenda a better chance of success, while creating a more generous ethos of political equality within a democratic society.
Source: SSRN Electronic Journal
Authors: De Luca, Sue Thomas
Institution: Fordham University
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W1497121954